Coping. Adapting. Adjusting.

The day to day landscape is redefined when it comes to living with a long term illness. The presence of a life altering condition is a challenge by it self. As the illness overtakes life with its collateral insults, dealing with the unforeseen chaos that follows makes it hard work. It is therefore not uncommon for chronic stress, depression and loss of self-esteem to get rooted in.

 

As the balance slowly tips over, stresses from work,home and relationships start setting in. The impact on livelihood, finacial constraints, burden of treatment can become overwhelming at times.

 

Personal attitudes, fears, influences from cultural and spiritual beliefs in cases of pluralistic and secular societies can make the illness experience an emotionally draining encounter.

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Digital media has transformed the in the landscape of social networking allowing wider interaction/collaboration and sharing through a variety of platforms and forums.

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Digital medium use in the context of art therapy

     - use of apps in mobiles/tablets/computers

     - Internet and social media to archive and share art and personal reflections

     - sharing contributes to interpersonal connections, social learning, generates a sense of          

       achievement  and increases self-worth

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There's a lot of scope to promote and ​develop the role of  digital medium for creative expression as a holistic approach to care given the wealth of studies illustrating the beneficial effects of integrating creativity and healing in long-term conditions. Especially for people who have difficulties with using a paint brush or charcoal stick due to physical limitations, the digital medium is a great solution - it works very well for me.

 

 

 

 

“Variety of form and brilliancy of colour in the object presented to patients are an actual means of recovery.” ~ Florence Nightingale