Sometimes, the emotions we feel are too complex for words. They can be a tangled web of stress, sadness, and anxiety that we carry deep within. I know this feeling intimately. In 2022, during a period of intense personal change and stress, I discovered an incredible, non-verbal outlet that would become a cornerstone of my healing: therapeutic drawing.
This wasn’t about creating perfect art; it was about expression. In those early days, my drawings reflected my inner world: they were dark, symbolic, and filled with a sense of emotional weight. Each stroke of the pen or pencil was a way to externalize the feelings I couldn’t express in any other way. The act of sitting down and letting my subconscious guide my hand was a form of catharsis—a way to release the sadness and trauma that had been building inside me.
I began to notice a profound shift. As the healing took place and I started feeling more like myself again, my art began to transform. Slowly, a sense of hope and light returned to my life. I started to enjoy the simple, beautiful things that had once seemed insignificant. And my drawings mirrored this inner change.
Step by step, the dark, heavy symbols gave way to vibrant, energetic colors. The tangled lines became floral shapes, full of life and movement. My sketches became filled with new emotions—light, love, and empowerment. My drawings were no longer just a reflection of my pain, but a testament to my resilience and the joy of rediscovering myself.
This journey taught me that expressive art is a powerful tool for therapy. It’s a language for the subconscious, a bridge between our inner and outer worlds. You don’t need to be an artist to benefit from it. You just need to be willing to pick up a pen, a crayon, or a paintbrush and allow your emotions to flow.
If you are struggling to find the words for what you feel, I encourage you to try a simple sketch or doodle. The journey from darkness to vibrancy is possible, and sometimes, it begins with a single line on a blank page.