If you are here on this blog, you are likely a big fan of all things creative, and hopefully you have seen the many benefits of crafting and creativity in your own life. I have often wondered about the profession of art therapy, and when I was asked to look into the benefits of art therapy specifally for hospital patients I jumped at the opportunity, as it is such an amazing concept to explore. Using art to do acts of kindness is something i always encourage, and so of course discovering the actual benefits of art for someone in a difficult situation, amazing!
Hospital stays rarely rank as one of the most enjoyable experiences in a person’s life, and activities such as art therapy can certainly help make them more bearable. Those of us who already appreciate art and creativity will of course be very happy to learn that art therapy is increasing in popularity for hospital patients.
The unfamiliar environment, separation from family and uncertainty of the outcome of the condition can make hospital stays particularly stressful. Delays in medical treatment don’t help either, but at times like this, it’s important to remain calm and do whatever one can to stay positive. One of the best ways to do that is by engaging in art therapy, which has been shown to improve the quality of hospital stays.
But what is art therapy and how exactly does it have a positive impact on a hospital stay? Let’s find out…
What is Art Therapy?
Art therapy is used to treat psychological disorders and enhance mental health. It’s built on the idea that creative expression can foster healing and mental well-being in patients.
This creation of art is used to help people explore emotions, develop self-awareness, cope with stress, boost self-esteem, and improve social skills. It doesn’t matter what type of art creation the therapy uses but these are some of the more common types:
• Painting
• Collage
• Coloring
• Drawing
• Doodling
• Sculpting
• Working with clay
• Photography
How Can Art Therapy Help a Patient Through Their Hospital Stay?
Now that we have an idea of what art therapy is and its primary purpose, lets take a look at how it helps a patient with their hospital stay.
1. Provides Symptom Relief
One of the most aggravating parts of a hospital stay is when a patient has painful symptoms that won’t go away. This may be because the treatment isn’t strong enough to alleviate all the symptoms, or because the treatment has been delayed.
In these situations, it’s important that the patient has something interesting to do that can take their mind off the pain, and that’s exactly what art therapy has been shown to do! Creating art helps distract one from their pain by diverting their attention towards other sensory modalities and lessening their ability to process painful stimuli. In a 2012 study looking into this phenomenon, the patients involved reported a decrease in their perceptions of pain whilst participating in art therapy as well as a reduction in stress, anxiety and depression.
2. Decreases Stress Levels
Speaking of a reduction in stress levels, art therapy has been shown to provide this benefit in a multitude of studies, significantly improving the quality of a patient’s hospital stay.
One such study published in the Journal of the American Art Therapy Association in 2016, showed that less than an hour of creative activity can reduce stress and have a positive effect on mental health, regardless of how talented the patient is. There’s nothing more stressful than waiting for a diagnosis or treatment in a hospital, so you might as well get involved in some art to see if it reduces your stress levels.
3. Fosters Self-Expression and Communication
On top of physically reducing stress levels and distracting patients from the pain of their condition, art therapy also help patients communicate their problems to hospital staff.
When aspects of a condition are too difficult to verbalize, art can be a tool in which to convey them to a health care provider. This means that art therapy can enhance the overall quality of treatment a patient receives because their doctor has a better idea of the complexity of their condition.
It might seem crazy that art can express the nuances of a condition more accurately than the spoken word, but a number of researchers have found that a combination of the two is better than one or the other.
These researchers have analized patients’ artwork and comments alongside each other to identify several themes that characterize their specific pain experience. These themes include:
• pain as a journey
• gaining pain and losing self
• re-definition of self
• fighting against the “pain identity”
• facing new limitations and boundaries
• working toward adjustment and acceptance
4. Boosts Self-Esteem & Encourages Personal Empowerment
A running theme across all the studies performed on patients who undergo art therapy is how positive they feel after they’ve produced a piece of art.
Especially in a situation where they’re in the care of other people and in less control of their own life. Creating art can give them the chance to problem solve, make their own decisions, and encourage personal empowerment.
Also, when patients look at the final product, they’ll feel proud that they managed to create something so beautiful under such difficult circumstances.
5. Allows Patients to Leave the Hospital Earlier
Delays in treatment because a doctor has too many patients to look after or because the condition is difficult to diagnose can make a stay in hospital take longer, which will only add to the existing stress. The good news is that studies have shown earlier discharges among patients taking part in visual and performing arts interventions; largely because of all the reasons we’ve shared with you in this post.
In one study, surgery and critical care patients who participated in art therapy had a decreased need for narcotic pain relief, relative to those who didn’t have this treatment and were discharged from hospital earlier.
So, Does Art Therapy Really Have a Positive Impact on a Hospital Stay?
In this post, we’ve explained what art therapy is and how it can provide patients with a more positive hospital stay. From providing pain and stress relief to boosting self-esteem, an increasing number of studies are proving that art therapy is a great way to improve a patients experience while they’re in the hospital.
Please be advised that this article is for general informational purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for advice from a trained medical professional. Be sure to consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you’re seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment. We are not liable for risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information on this site.
