Can art heal?
How creativity can transform your health.
Happy Tuesday, health heroes.
As you may know by now, I’m a firm believer in exploring new ways to heal and stay healthy. While some methods don’t resonate with me—like regular IV therapy (Intravenous Nutrient Therapies or IVNT – more on this topic to come in a future newsletter)—I always respect thoughtful decisions people make about their health, regardless of what they may be.
The key word here is ‘thoughtful’ — many people dive into various therapies and remedies without considering the bigger picture, trading short-term results (or perceived results) without understanding the true nature or effort of the intervention.
That’s where CREECS comes in—Cost, Risk, Effort, Effectiveness, Commitment, and Support. (You can find more about CREECS in another article I’ve written on decision-making for GLP-1’s.)
Often, people overlook how these factors align with what their health truly needs to function optimally.
But I’ve found one intervention that anyone can do, and it’s wonderfully flexible within any CREECS framework. It’s enjoyable, fulfilling, and even fun—and it’s proven beneficial for our overall health.
Curious? It’s the simple act of appreciating and creating art.
Being creative holds immense value for our well-being. When was the last time you let yourself create something—not for a deadline, not for someone else—but simply for the joy of it? Even something as simple as doodling counts.
Art comes in countless forms—music, dance, painting, writing, even making poetry. Each of us contains the capacity to create, and the magic isn’t just in the art itself—it’s in what the process of creating does for our health and well-being.
Some of the things being artistic can do.
This is far from comprehensive. In general, any method of self-expression, sublimation, and processing helps lower cortisol and reduce stress. Chronic stress is one of the silent, deadly amplifiers of many health issues.
Here are a few other things it can do:
🧠 Mental health: Art can help reduce the risk of mental illness, such as depression, and can help with anxiety, stress, and loneliness. It can also help people build self-esteem, confidence, and self-worth.
💃 Social health: Art can help people connect with others and help us feel a sense of experiential belonging. For example, I used to teach Zumba, and we had so much fun in that class because we were shaking our booties like no one was watching. The people who attended will always be part of my Zumba family —shoutout to my former Zumba students if you’re still with me! I’m working on a project now to create an online art workshop that will reach hundreds of people across the state of Wyoming. Although the setting online isn’t ideal (I’d much rather it be in person) it’s still creating a temporary tribe of artists.
🖼️ Critical thinking: Visiting art galleries or museums can help keep the mind active and engaged in critical thinking. Viewing art also evokes emotions and curiosity. I recently visited the New York Metropolitan Museum, and some of the art has never left my mind since. It was that thought-provoking and impactful. Take some time and visit a local art gallery and see how it changes your mood, or what it emotions certain pieces evoke.
🤕 Emotional navigation: Art can help people understand and communicate their emotions, and process difficult emotions. I’ve recently been through a family trauma, and so have taken on the act of journaling. Journaling is also a type of art where you can safely use words to paint the picture of the situation as you feel and see it. It has helped me process the matter in a loving way, while working out my own feelings and emotions rather than storing them up inside.
🌿 Holistic wellness: Art can promote holistic wellness and motivate recovery. Simply humming simple songs from our childhood with someone with dementia or stroke victims can transcend words and go to a deeper place.
♾️ Lifelong learning: Art can promote lifelong learning and reinforce creativity.
For many of us, art seems like something reserved for those with “talent”—the painters, musicians, and dancers of the world. But what if the power of art lies not in talent but in the simple act of creating?
Could it be that art holds the key to unlocking deeper levels of mental well-being, especially during the long, harsh winters (like what I deal with in Wyoming) when sunlight is a luxury and we’re stuck inside?
Think about it for a moment. How often do you turn to creativity when life feels overwhelming? Do you reach for a journal to write down your thoughts, hum a tune while you’re cooking, or doodle in the margins of your notebook? If not, why?
We often talk about managing mental health with the typical tools—exercise, sleep, nutrition, and therapy, but we rarely hear about using creativity as part of our wellness strategy. And yet, there’s mounting evidence that engaging in creative activities can help reduce stress, improve mood, and even reframe how we process challenging life events.
Art as Preventive Therapy
Consider this: instead of waiting for stress or anxiety to take hold, what if we used art as preventive therapy? Much like exercise strengthens our bodies, creativity strengthens our minds.
I interviewed both Josh Chrysler from the Wyoming Arts Council and art therapist Hilary Camino, for an upcoming episode of the Wyoming on Wellness podcast. They told stories of instances where the simple act of singing or moving could reach into the deep recesses of the brain beyond what words could do. We speak another language – and that language is art and accessed through creativity.
Let’s harness that innate healing and creative opportunity to improve our health.
No - not for me, you’re thinking. I’ve never been good at artistic endeavors.
For many of us, art hasn’t been something we’re “good” at. But what’s your definition of "good?” You don’t need a formal canvas, a stage, or an audience. You just need curiosity. What would happen if you let yourself explore that curiosity without judgment? Can you picture how your mental landscape might shift if you allowed yourself to engage in art purely for the sake of joy, not performance?
Imagine what would happen if we viewed creativity as a tool, not just for self-expression, but for self-care. How might your mental health change if, instead of scrolling through your phone during stressful moments, you started taking pictures with it of beautiful things around you, or picked up a sketchpad, turned on music to dance to, or wrote down your thoughts in free form?
Instead of coping or ‘shutting down’ with a distraction, processing through expression helps us stay present in our own bodies and minds as we heal.
The Science of Creative Engagement
Science backs the hypothesis that art is a powerful tool for staying well. Studies using advanced MRI show that engaging in creative activities lights up areas of the brain associated with emotion, memory, and problem-solving. When we sing, dance, or play music, we’re not just using one part of our brain—we’re involving both brain hemispheres, creating a more engaged and connected mental state.
This is true for both creating and viewing art. Even the motor cortex part of the brain gets involved even when we aren’t even moving but just participating in artful endeavors. Art can also induce neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to repair and re-channel neuronal connections.
In fact, research shows that creating art reduces levels of cortisol, the infamous stress hormone, and increases dopamine, the “feel-good” chemical in our brains. That’s why so many people report feeling a sense of calm or accomplishment after a creative session, even if they’re not “artists.”
So, why do we shy away from it? Is it possible that, somewhere along the line, we started believing art wasn’t for us? Or that it wasn’t practical?
Breaking Free from Judgment and Comparison
What if we permitted ourselves to step into the artistic realm, free from the pressure to perform or compete? Free from the pressure of looking ‘aesthetic?’
Could you let go of the need to be “good” at something and simply do it for the experience?
In our highly online culture, it can feel like you have to share your process or come up with a result that you can proudly share. If you find yourself drawn to sharing your art and looking for likes, take a step back — the process is for you, not the approval or judgment of others.
Think about a time when you felt completely absorbed in a creative project. Maybe it was decorating a room, arranging flowers, or even cooking a meal. Were you worried about how it would be judged, or were you just enjoying the process? In those moments, we’re not just creating—we’re allowing ourselves to be present, to express without constraints, and to engage with our minds in a unique way. In fact, you don’t have to share it with anyone.
If you feel pressure, ask yourself: Who am I doing this for? What would change if I created something just for me?
Art as a Health Maintenance Tool
Now, let’s take this a step further. What if art wasn’t just a hobby, but a way to manage your mental health? Could it be a tool to help you navigate life’s ups and downs, perhaps even more effectively than some of the standard approaches we’re so used to?
Art therapy is now widely used to help people cope with trauma, chronic illness, and emotional pain. Cancer patients have reported reduced anxiety and improved mood after engaging in art therapy. Trauma survivors use creative expression to process feelings that are too difficult to put into words. Art becomes the bridge between our deeper selves and reality.
If art can do this for people facing such immense challenges, what could it do for you in your day-to-day life? How might it help you deal with the more minor stresses or even serve as a form of mental maintenance to keep you feeling more balanced?
A Beautiful Challenge: How Will You Use Art to Enhance Your Life?
Instead of thinking of art as something distant or optional, can you view it as an essential part of your health? What would your life look like if you nurtured your creative side, not out of obligation, but out of a deep sense of curiosity and care for your own well-being?
If you’ve ever felt the tug to express yourself, no matter the form, I encourage you to embrace it. You don’t have to be the next great painter, musician, or poet. You just need to be you. Your creative expressions, however they appear, are valid. They are a window into who you are, how you feel, and how you heal.
And as the long winter approaches, why not give art a try? What small creative endeavor could you start today that might lift your spirits, even if just a little? How might that act of creativity snowball (pun intended) into something bigger that nourishes you in ways you can’t yet predict?
Cheers to those who embrace creativity, not for the outcome but for the experience. You might just find that nurturing your artistic side brings more mental clarity, joy, and peace than you ever imagined.
So, the next time you feel stuck, stressed, or overwhelmed, consider what you can create right now to shift your perspective. Could it be a song, a sketch, a poem, or simply a moment of reflection?
How might your mind, body, and spirit respond if you allowed yourself to create without fear of judgment? Because, after all, being creative is deeply rooted within us – all we need to do is nurture it.
In case you need an example, here’s a short poem I created about therapeutic art. Don’t judge too harshly - I am putting myself out there. :)
We unbind our minds
With strokes of color,
Patterns, shapes, textures,
Notes released,
Like birds flying out of a cage.
Words flow freely,
Movement releases with the beat.
Over-thinking fades,
When the soul expresses
And releases what words
Could never convey.
What do you enjoy creating, just for yourself? Let me know in the comments, and share so that others can be inspired as well.
See you Thursday!
Dr. Alice
A little more about Dr. Alice Burron and The Health Navigator Group:
You can find more about The Health Navigator Group at our website: www.thehealthnavigator.org
On Instagram: @the.health.navigator
And learn more about Dr. Alice Burron at her website: draliceburron.com
Or via her personal Instagram: @dr_burron
You can even connect with her on LinkedIn, if you want to be professional about it. 👓
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