Sexual Abuse Counseling Week 7: Find A Creative Outlet

     Every human being is creative by nature; whether we choose to unlock these abilities is a different matter. Treating every emotional issue that arises as a serious detriment is unhealthy, and finding a creative outlet that allows one to actually feel good purging negative emotions is one piece of the complex puzzle that is trying to lead a happy life.

     Writing and journaling are one step. Almost every author draws from reality, and characters in stories and novels are based on the author or people (s)he knows or knew. Journaling is an even more direct way of expressing oneself. It doesn't have to be good, and nobody need ever read it. It could be two sentences a night or eleven pages; the entire point is that it suits the purposes of the individual.

     The same statement holds true for music and art. From painting by throwing a paint brush against a wall to furiously strumming on guitar chords, one can get as serious with their hobby as they would like. If one succeeds, it can be a reminder of the potential drawn from sheer determination, and even randomly moving one's fingers for 10 or 20 minutes on an instrument can be therapeutic.

     In mental hospitals and hospitals in general, therapy is given through various art forms to lift peoples' spirits, and this is for good reason. Nobody has ever had any regret for picking up a pencil, a brush, or a guitar.