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Creativity, Hobbies, Stress, Anxiety and Panic Attacks

Do you have any hobbies or projects that you enjoy?

Many people who are filled with anxiety will tell you that they do not have any hobbies or have given up on their hobbies and interests. Perhaps what you need to help you overcome anxiety attacks is a little dose of creativity.

Sigmund Freud said that depression was the result of stifled creativity. Freud, the founder of modern psychiatry, saw that many people who were highly creative also had mental disorders, including depression and anxiety.

If you start a hobby that interests you, chances are that you will take your mind off of the problems that you are imagining and start focusing on this hobby. Many people will look for a creative outlet when they are feeling anxious.

In order to find the right creative outlet for you, take a look at your past and what you liked to do. What sort of hobby or creative project interests you? Are you making time for that in your life right now?

Chances are that you are not making any time for anything when you are feeling anxious - other than the anxiety, which can take over your life if you allow this to happen. Start thinking of hobbies as well as creative pursuits that you can follow to allow yourself to feel more in control and less anxious. Some of the most popular hobbies include:

  • Painting
  • Writing
  • Needlework
  • Knitting
  • Scrapbook Making
  • Photography
  • Woodworking

or even more active pursuits, golf, fishing, walking the dog in the park or a myriad of other choices.

This is just a few of the hobbies that might help you when you are feeling anxious. If you focus on the hobby, you will focus less on your own anxiety and can stop the negative thought process in its tracks.

If you are unsure about a hobby, or have a hobby that you would like to try but do not know how to go about it, you can go to your local parks department to see if they are offering classes. You can also look to stores that sell supplies, such as scrap book supplies, and see if they have a class that you can take to learn the tricks of the trade. Sometimes, just doing something creative alleviates the anxiety.

When you feel an anxiety attack coming on, start to express what you are feeling in a creative way. This is often taught in art therapy for those who have chronic pain, such as headaches. Many times they will paint what they are feeling when the have a migraine headache. This can help them endure the migraine and also make something positive come out of the experience.

Remember this… expression equals outlet. You need to have an outlet for the anxious energy you are building up. A different focus for your mind, a positive outlet rather than a negative one.

Creative pursuits can help you endure the anguish that you feel when you become full of anxiety and are a much more positive way of dealing with these feelings than by trying to self medicate yourself with alcohol or other means. You may even find that you have a knack for a certain hobby and can make something good come out of your anxiety.

One woman who had anxiety began to knit. Needle work is a good way to alleviate stress because it entails concentrating on a repeated pattern. Many people today are seeking a way to learn how to knit, crochet or perform needlework tasks. These domestic arts are coming full circle as people find that they are under a great deal of stress and need something to help them cope.

Writing is also a very creative pursuit and can be a way to allow the negative energy to escape you. If you feel as though you are getting anxious, you should write down what you are feeling. You can do this in the form of poetry or prose. You do not have to be talented to do this and you do not have to show anyone what you are writing, either. But this can be a way to help you transfer your anxiety onto paper and thus, ridding it from being trapped in your mind.

Keep a journal and write down your negative thoughts to try to expel them from you body. Writing can be one of the best creative pursuits for anxiety as it does not cost any money and can be done on the spur of the moment. Just have a pen and paper and write your thoughts out.

Myself, I am an active type person. Golf is my passion and there is nothing like pounding golf balls to relieve stress. I can’t say hitting the ball as hard as possible does anything for my swing, but damn, it sure makes me feel better.

What about in the winter, when it’s too cold to hold a steel shaft in your hands? Well, I took up painting, and have them hanging all over the house. I’ve actually been offered good money for my paintings, but have never sold them, I enjoy them too much. But, the same thing could happen to you, you never know, your creative outlet might just lead you to another career, or at least another stream of income, and even if they don’t, I know for sure they will lead you to a path of further enrichment and enjoyment in your life!

Take control of your panic attacks… without the use of medication and expensive doctors! Try Panic Away.

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  1. 10 Comment(s)

  2. By Melvy on Jul 15, 2009 | Reply

    Anxiety depends upon the circumstances or intensity of being in an anxious stage relating any of these problems like financial problems, relationships, illness, career, exams and so on. By keeping our minds occupies with hobbies and games of our interest, we can be free of anxiety.

  3. By Diane on Aug 2, 2009 | Reply

    Panic and Anxiety can be a traumatic experience. I agree that doing things to keep your mind off your anxiety can help a lot. Another good way to help is to use a a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) program.

  4. By Mark on Aug 4, 2009 | Reply

    Thanks for the article. I know from bitter experience that it is definately important to occupy your mind to help you through panic and anxiety attacks as allowing yourself to think on negative thoughts is definately only going to lead you down the wrong path. I totally agree that we should be looking more at natural types of medication as cures for anxiety rather than let the nation keep “popping pills”.

  5. By daniel on Aug 7, 2009 | Reply

    By keeping our minds occupies with hobbies and games of our interest, we can be free of anxiety.
    daniel´s last blog ..Creativity, Hobbies, Stress, Anxiety and Panic Attacks My ComLuv Profile

  6. By Jerry Clifford from Minneapolis Minnesota real estate on Sep 29, 2009 | Reply

    Inspiring post, When i feel stress or panic attacks, I do the same things which you posted on this post. I start writing about my feelings in my diary. It’s really helps me, After few days or months when i look back to those pages, a smile comes on my face & at that moment i feel i was having stress for nothing lol. I listen to the music too, well it truly keeps my mind busy. In the ends it’s true by keeping our minds busy with hobbies or things which interest us most we can be feel free from anxiety.

  7. By Bill on Oct 5, 2009 | Reply

    Thankd for the informative post. I also use golf as my outlet. It sure feels good to take my driver and watch the ball fly out to the 250+ yard marker.
    Bill @ Coping With Panic Attacks´s last blog ..Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety My ComLuv Profile

  8. By ryan from golf swing mechanics on Oct 30, 2009 | Reply

    Having a hobbies is very helpful for everyone. When you have hobbies that you really enjoy you will not think of all the problems you have and you will not get into stress.

  9. By NancyC on Nov 5, 2009 | Reply

    Journals and diaries are one of the most effective tools we can use!!

    Thanks for taking the time to post and reinforce that point!

    Best,
    Nancy

  10. By NancyC on Nov 5, 2009 | Reply

    There’s just something about hitting a golf ball that cures all kinds of ills, isn’t there?

  11. By Joe Baldwin on Feb 11, 2010 | Reply

    I am to a great extent impressed with the article I have just read. I wish the writer of stop-panic-attacks.insidemichaelb.com can continue to provide so much worthwhile information and unforgettable experience to stop-panic-attacks.insidemichaelb.com readers. There is not much to say except the following universal truth: Feet taste better with Ketchup. I will be back.

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