art and depression

Art therapy has shed light on the relationships between art and mental health. This is particularly the case for painting therapy which is one of the major axes of this discipline.

For many, an artist is by definition a depressed artist. He draws his inspiration from his depression. This image is still vivid in many minds, but it is largely false. This “art depression” section attempts to shed light on this subject.

I've been feeling nervous lately. I can't sleep and I feel like I'm missing out on my life. I need to step back and take time to think.

Many of us ask ourselves or have asked ourselves these kinds of questions when going through an episode of depression. However, they are not necessarily depressed. Depression is not a mood swing. It is a psychological and physiological disorder that is not linked to willpower as previously thought. It is a mental health disorder that causes extreme sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest in life in general. Treatment is necessary for healing. Art therefore has its place in these alternative disciplines. Art and depression often move forward together.

Artists have been drawing on personal experiences to create art for as long as art has existed. For example, Vincent Van Gogh frequently used the colors yellow and green to symbolize hope in his paintings. He expressed an inner struggle in his own way.

Disciplines such as sophrology and art therapy which includes painting therapy and other specialties such as sculpture therapy can help people with mild depression. These methods are much preferable to injunctions like: don't let yourself go, you have to move now, a little willpower, let's see! In mild cases, they are able to advantageously replace antidepressants. It should be noted that these practices, for more proven cases, do not replace antidepressant medication treatments or psychotherapy treatment. They can only support people who are experiencing episodes of depression.