Underrated coping skill: crafting
This is the fifth post in the Grey Thinking series, Five of the most underrated coping skills.
I’m not sure that “crafting” really encompasses the coping skill that I want to mention, but it’s the best term that I could come up with. When I say “crafting,” I mean any of the following:
- coloring
- making collages
- sudoku /crossword puzzles
- word searches
- computer solitaire
- kitting
- drawing / painting
- origami
…see my point? Semi-creative (and low-stress) activities that keep your hands busy. I don’t know what it is about keeping my hands busy, but it really helps with the anxiety.
Personally, I prefer coloring & sudoku… mainly because they don’t really require any thought. I can stress out about drawing because I don’t know where to start or I am worried about screwing it up. With coloring… it’s way harder to screw up and limited decisions have to be made. I know people who really get a lot more out of art than just being distracted and it can really be therapeutic for them. I have days like that, but usually I’m just looking for a good, basically mindless activity.
I like this one very much. Things like this are helpful when I’m trying not to overexercise, because they give me both a mental outlet and something to do with my hands to keep me focused and not thinking about whatever anxieties I’m having. My favorites have always been cross-stitch and jigsaw puzzles.
I think creativity is a great coping skill…or strategy. You don’t have to have any artistic skill, just play. I began painting stones and pebbles from my back yard, colouring books (especially mandalas). It all keeps the mind from analysing stuff, which for me gets me so very anxious and fearful. Great skill/strategy in my opinion.