"By taking just half an hour at some point during the day to meditatively stitch something for myself or someone else I bring my mind and heart back to a place of peace."
A lovely article. I do many crafts but find the ones that I like best end with a practical gift. You make something for someone that will (hopefully) make them happy, while the making of it makes you happy. All for the price of one thing.
I found that if I was sewing or doing crochet I would absorb information better. Though I never managed to convince my bosses that by doing embroidery in a training session, I would be more receptive to the information being shared!
This all resonates. I crocheted through almost every lecture in my first graduate program and definitely absorbed better that way. It was an integral psychology program so almost every professor was open to it.
A friend jokes that my hobby is hobbies because I’m not very productive but need all of the supplies etc. I’ve been knitting and crocheting since childhood, I’ve tried spinning, weaving (yes I have spinning wheels and small looms). Lately it’s been embroidery and needlepoint (not a fan of cross-stitch though). I also paint in acrylic and watercolor (mediocre at best). And finally this spring I took a pottery class which I loved (I’ve signed up for 2 for the summer). I love working with my hands, playing with color, experimenting. And it’s such a welcome change from my job which can be stressful and not always creative.
I think the excitement as well as the brain challenge of learning/playing with something new is a wonderful thing. Much more wonderful than specifically being "productive".
One of the most useful psycho education courses I’ve ever attended was called “Behavioural Activation”. It described exactly what your article says, but using the principles of CBT. Roughly, if you do something, anything, you will feel better about yourself and your situation.
It’s easier to do something fun, or relaxing, or familiar, so start there. It’s what got me back into crocheting ‘properly’ (I never really stopped after I first learned, but I had never pushed myself to learn more than a granny square either) - and it’s the one thing that I haven’t stopped doing since! Even in bad depressive episodes, the social crochet group I joined gets me out of bed and out of the house at least once! (And similarly, a weekly crafty zoom session during Covid lockdown kept me connected to the rest of the world)
I hadn't thought about writing on crochet / knitting from a CBT perspective but it makes perfect sense. So glad that you have found crochet as a regular tool to pull yourself up. Same same. <3 <3
I resonate with this so much. I have suffered from depression for 30+ years now. I have felt those same moments of contemplation of death just to get out of the emotional pain, not because I really wanted to die. Physical pain is with me now. Fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, diabetes are here to stay. I knit, crochet, cross stitch and sew. As my hands start to hurt more, I often wonder what I will do with myself if ever I can’t craft any longer. Crafting helps me declutter my mind and I am very thankful for it. Thank you for sharing this with us.
I always need an audiobook or podcast playing while crocheting or else I don’t completely get into my zen. I want to learn though to sit in the silence of my knitting and crocheting. It would help my mental health a lot.
I'm so glad you found crocheting when you needed it most! For me, knitting helps with occasional anxiety; I can see how it helped you with depression. Your story touched me.
I also tend to knit (sometimes crochet) while watching tv; I agree it makes you feel like you are doing something constructive rather than just sitting there.
A lovely article. I do many crafts but find the ones that I like best end with a practical gift. You make something for someone that will (hopefully) make them happy, while the making of it makes you happy. All for the price of one thing.
I found that if I was sewing or doing crochet I would absorb information better. Though I never managed to convince my bosses that by doing embroidery in a training session, I would be more receptive to the information being shared!
This all resonates. I crocheted through almost every lecture in my first graduate program and definitely absorbed better that way. It was an integral psychology program so almost every professor was open to it.
All for the price of one thing. I does feel that way for me too.
A friend jokes that my hobby is hobbies because I’m not very productive but need all of the supplies etc. I’ve been knitting and crocheting since childhood, I’ve tried spinning, weaving (yes I have spinning wheels and small looms). Lately it’s been embroidery and needlepoint (not a fan of cross-stitch though). I also paint in acrylic and watercolor (mediocre at best). And finally this spring I took a pottery class which I loved (I’ve signed up for 2 for the summer). I love working with my hands, playing with color, experimenting. And it’s such a welcome change from my job which can be stressful and not always creative.
Are you my crafting twin? 😂
Ha!
I think the excitement as well as the brain challenge of learning/playing with something new is a wonderful thing. Much more wonderful than specifically being "productive".
Such a good article. I saved it so I can reread it when I need the reminder/inspiration.
Appreciate that. <3
One of the most useful psycho education courses I’ve ever attended was called “Behavioural Activation”. It described exactly what your article says, but using the principles of CBT. Roughly, if you do something, anything, you will feel better about yourself and your situation.
It’s easier to do something fun, or relaxing, or familiar, so start there. It’s what got me back into crocheting ‘properly’ (I never really stopped after I first learned, but I had never pushed myself to learn more than a granny square either) - and it’s the one thing that I haven’t stopped doing since! Even in bad depressive episodes, the social crochet group I joined gets me out of bed and out of the house at least once! (And similarly, a weekly crafty zoom session during Covid lockdown kept me connected to the rest of the world)
I hadn't thought about writing on crochet / knitting from a CBT perspective but it makes perfect sense. So glad that you have found crochet as a regular tool to pull yourself up. Same same. <3 <3
I resonate with this so much. I have suffered from depression for 30+ years now. I have felt those same moments of contemplation of death just to get out of the emotional pain, not because I really wanted to die. Physical pain is with me now. Fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, diabetes are here to stay. I knit, crochet, cross stitch and sew. As my hands start to hurt more, I often wonder what I will do with myself if ever I can’t craft any longer. Crafting helps me declutter my mind and I am very thankful for it. Thank you for sharing this with us.
Sending big resonant hugs. For crochet larger ergonomic hooks and thicker softer yarn help make it easier for the hands. ❤️
I always need an audiobook or podcast playing while crocheting or else I don’t completely get into my zen. I want to learn though to sit in the silence of my knitting and crocheting. It would help my mental health a lot.
I generally have to have sound on as well
I'm so glad you found crocheting when you needed it most! For me, knitting helps with occasional anxiety; I can see how it helped you with depression. Your story touched me.
I also tend to knit (sometimes crochet) while watching tv; I agree it makes you feel like you are doing something constructive rather than just sitting there.
Thank you for sharing your experience. :)
I can definitely relate to handcrafting helping with anxiety. <3