Addressing Emotional Pain #5 – Recognizing Deeper Emotions with Artwork

To see things in the seed, that is genius.  ~ Lao Tzu

In a previous post I listed some tools to help address emotional pain.  One of those tools I learned is creating artwork that represents what you are feeling, such as a drawing, painting, sketching, doodling, photography, etc.  It doesn’t have to be fancy and you don’t have to be an artist.  The important point to remember is that the energy associated with painful emotions needs an outlet, instead of becoming trapped in the body.  Just try to get it out of you.  Stopping, distracting, dismissing or suppressing these emotions can surface later in other, potentially harmful ways.

When you create your “emotion” artwork, ask yourself a couple of questions.  “What does this picture mean?”  “What is it trying to tell me?”  It may depict a primary feeling at first, such as sadness, anger, fear, etc.  But try to dig deeper and notice other feelings that arise.  Don’t be content with the first emotion you are creating because this could help reveal core issues that need to be addressed.

Look at the following doodle for example.  Have you ever felt down or discouraged, like you were in a deep hole and didn’t know how to climb out?  If this were one of your doodles, what are your initial feelings?  Is it hopeless, overwhelmed…?  If you dig deeper, what are other feelings that arise?  List them…is it sad…lonely…frustrated…angry…isolated…irritated, etc…?  The face may not depict all the emotions, but dig deeper.  Notice what else you are feeling. 

Consider the following:

• Did the artwork help?  Did the emotions decrease?  Did the urge to draw decrease?  The emotional charge may have decreased, but don’t worry if the emotions don’t go away after several artwork attempts.  We need to trust the process and see what develops.
• Keep creating.  You might notice a predominant emotion among the images or a recurring theme that needs attention and help us decide what to do later.  Look at your images and ask, “What is the pattern?”  Do you see one?”
• Don’t expect the emotion to disappear quickly.  The emotion may continue, but it may need more work with drawing or a combination of other tools.
• Be patient as this may take a while.  Patience is important.  The process is unfolding and we don’t know the end result.  Take it slow and don’t push it too hard.  The body won’t trust you if you push it.
• If you produce an image, and have an urge to create more, it may be because you are connecting better with your body (mind/body connection).  Certain memories may be occurring.  If the memories recur, they may tell us what needs attention or cause us to ask what they mean.  The mind also may be determining what is in the closet, and then trying to clean out the closet.  The drawings will help determine what is in the closet.
• Avoid explaining the emotions away.  This creates more distance from your emotions.
• Draw an alternate scenario to the emotion or to the drawing you have already done.  For example, with the doodle above, how would you draw yourself if you had more “power.”  Ask, “How do I have power?”   Drawing an alternate scenario helps you figure out an alternate in real life.
• Draw each different emotion you feel as a result of digging deeper into your artwork.

We did a similar process in one of my pain psychology sessions.  I don’t draw because it is neither a desire nor a talent that I have.  But a few months ago, I had an urge to sketch out how I was feeling.  That first drawing led to another, then another, and another, and over the next few days, I had several drawings.  I took them into my session to discuss.  I gave the background behind the first drawing, and the (predominant) emotion I ha that led me to that drawing.  I was ready to go onto the next drawing, but we stayed on the first one and discussed it further, delving deeper into the feelings of that one drawing.  My psychologist’s question after each feeling I noticed was a compassionate, “what else…what else…”  We spent several minutes just on that first drawing, and it was interesting and eye-opening to see how many feelings were associated with one image.  I listed those feelings on the back of the drawing and it still is amazing to me to see how many feelings revealed themselves.

Don’t always be comfortable with your first emotion.  Try to find out what it is really about.  Recognizing deeper emotions can be very helpful part of a healing process!

Have you ever used artwork to help with emotions?  If so, I’d like to hear your experiences and opinions, and if it worked for you.  If not, what have you found that is helpful?

Related articles:

• Addressing Emotional Pain #4 – Secondary Emotions
• Addressing Emotional Pain #3 – Body Awareness
• Addressing Emotional Pain #2 – Tools
• Addressing Emotional Pain #1
• Body Awareness – Notice the Details
• Listening – awakemoment.wordpress.com