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Mandala: The Art Therapy
The rapid change of our world due to technologies, along with the Covid-19 pandemic, has changed our lifestyles and societies causing people to experience more mental health issues. Coping with the pressure of today’s changing world requires skills and abilities to adapt it to our life. Certain activities can reduce anxiety and increase concentration and work efficiency, one of which is Mandala drawing – a form of therapeutic artistic therapy.
Mandala, meaning “circle or centre” in Sanskrit, is a spiritual symbol of the universe in Buddhism and Hinduism. The drawing starts from the centre of the circle and gradually expands over time using multiple layers of geometric shapes, lines, and patterns with a balance and symmetry in every aspect around the circle. As the drawing increases concentration, it helps stimulate creativity and calming, release emotions, relieve feelings and anxiety, particularly among those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Patti Henderson and David Rosen of Texas A&M University and Nathan Mascaro from Emory University studied 36 PTSD patients who were divided into 2 groups. The first group drew a Mandala for 20 minutes each time for 3 days in a row, and the other group drew a general object within the same given time frame.
The results showed that signs of anxiety and distress in the Mandala drawing group decreased within 1 month while there were no significant changes in the second group. Nowadays, Mandala drawing is widely used in meditation practice, psychotic treatments, stress therapy, and many other therapies for normal people.
Mandala drawing has no rules and can easily be created without any techniques with full imagination. Shapes and colors can be used to express yourself clearly and uniquely. A mandala coloring book can be an alternative to those without drawing skills and dislike. Mandala coloring is as effective as meditation because the complexity of Mandala images requires both sides of the hemisphere to concentrate on coloring as well as help different parts of the brain work together in balance for attractive color choices. It also encourages analytical and creative thinking, enhances problem-solving skills and strengthen your mind. It is not only a fun activity, but also an emotional therapy for everyone.
Source:
https://www.verywellmind.com/drawing-art-therapy-and…
https://www.art-is-fun.com/how-to-draw-a-mandala
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4819653/
https://www.stressreliefcoloringapp.com/8-benefits-of…/
