Understanding Anxiety Through Art: A Personal Journey and Therapeutic Exploration
Anxiety, a natural response to perceived threats or dangers, has been a companion of humanity since its dawn, deriving from the Latin word “anxietas,” meaning trouble or constriction. While anxiety is a common human emotion, its manifestation as an anxiety disorder, such as Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), necessitates clinical attention due to its pervasive impact on daily functioning.
As someone grappling with GAD, I’m driven to explore this condition not just as a personal challenge but as a broader issue affecting both children and adults alike. My inquiry focuses on the specific ways anxiety influences women, sharing my emotional landscape during anxiety episodes. Utilizing art therapy, particularly through a therapeutic installation employing photography, I aim to visualize the effects of anxiety.
Thesis Statement
This work centers around the theme of women’s anxiety, delving into my mental health struggles and their impact on my physical and mental wellbeing. I propose art therapy as a temporary coping mechanism.
Significance
My objective is to navigate through my fears and the incessant thoughts that trigger panic over mundane worries. It’s crucial to address the societal lack of understanding towards anxiety disorders, advocating for open discussions about fears, feelings, and overwhelming thoughts.
Types of Anxiety
Anxiety encompasses various forms, including:
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
- Social Anxiety
- Panic Disorder
- Agoraphobia
- Specific Phobias
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
GAD, characterized by excessive worry about everyday events without clear reasons, will be the primary focus, exploring strategies to manage and distract from the anxiety it engenders.
Objectives
The goal is to elucidate anxiety’s impact on individuals, striving to overcome fears and make the experiences comprehensible to others. It involves identifying triggers and conveying the relentless nature of anxious feelings.
Literature Review
The intersection of art and anxiety is not new; historically, anxiety was perceived through various lenses, from ancient Greece’s association with “hysteria” to the Renaissance and Victorian era misconceptions, culminating in modern therapeutic approaches like exposure therapy and antidepressants. Artists like Salvador Dali and Louise Bourgeois have depicted anxiety, contributing to a nuanced understanding of the condition.
Methodology
As a graphic arts student, I leverage digital photography and software like Photoshop and Illustrator to capture the expressions and feelings induced by anxiety attacks. Additionally, I’m creating an interactive, therapeutic installation for individuals with anxiety, utilizing materials that symbolize the emotional weight of the disorder.
Material and Strategy
The installation utilizes black shopping bags, balloons, and other materials to create a space that reflects the experience of anxiety. The photography component captures the nuanced expressions of anxiety, aiming to resonate with women across various life stages.
Target Group
The project targets women aged 18 to 80, recognizing the diverse challenges they face, from teenage pressures to adult responsibilities, and aims to offer a form of temporary relief through artistic engagement.
Conclusion
This exploration into anxiety through art has been both a personal journey and a means to assist others in confronting their struggles. The process has highlighted the power of artistic expression in navigating and mitigating the complexities of anxiety disorders.