by Katie K. May
“We are all broken and wounded
in this world. Some choose to grow strong at the broken places.”
~Harold J.
Duarte-Bernhardt
Everyone has
a creative side and you don’t need to be a skilled artist to engage in the
arts. There are many ways to be creative including drawing, writing,
playing an instrument, dancing, designing fashion, woodworking, knitting,
cooking, coloring and painting. Using art as an outlet helps you to put
your emotional energy into creativity rather than getting stuck in difficult
emotions.
In Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT),
“Creative Outlet” is a skill that is taught to help participants manage a
difficult situation or intense feeling. DBT is a skills-based approach
designed to help its participants abstain from self-destructive thoughts and
behaviors, act less impulsively and improve their emotions and
relationships. For individuals who struggle with safety issues like
suicidal thoughts and self-harm, DBT is the recommended treatment.
DBT is about being mindful of the balance between
extremes. In the case of using Creative Outlet, this is a crisis survival
skill meant to be planned and temporary. This means it is important to
mindfully take a break from the situation that is triggering extreme emotions
and use your creative outlet to cope with distress and express difficult
feelings in a healthy way.
Taking a break when you are overwhelmed with
emotion will help you regroup and decompress so that you can be more effective
when you approach the problem. To maintain balance, it is essential that you
return to and deal with the crisis once you feel more in control of your
emotions. Trying to avoid a difficult situation forever may make it worse
or create more long-term problems.
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