.Relentlessly Purple covers, Craft, Mental Illness, product reviews and more. Blogging gives me a creative outlet, an excuse to craft and show it off across different platforms. I love hearing how others do the same and seeing their makes. I especially love the idea of Happy Post which I’ll let Katie tell you more about.
Craft, Mental Illness And Happy Post
I have always been very creative, right back to my childhood days and before mental illness really took hold of my life but even then I found it relaxing and something I could really get in to. I have taken craft with me throughout my life and now have an Etsy shop, where I sell my makes Katies Cabin Handmade. Crafting is like a part of me, if I didn’t have it, I am not sure who I would be, it’s almost built into who I am.
Craft and Mental Illness
I have had a very long battle with mental health issues starting with self-harm when I was 14. In my late teens I started struggling with anorexia and later in life was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Throughout these times creative activities have been extremely helpful. They really help to focus the mind on one activity rather than the million thoughts going round my head. If I am depressed and struggling to do anything, sometimes, if I can just get myself to do something small but creative, it helps me to feel like I am being productive. Crafting can boost a mood, if only slightly.
Craft is a very mindful activity and always helps me to just zone out to everything else going on around me. Within craft groups and communities that I am part of it seems that a large proportion of crafters actually struggle with mental health issues. They use craft for this very reason whether they then go on to sell their makes or not, so there must be definitely something in the fact that crafting does help mental health issues!
People may think “I’m not creative” or “I couldn’t make that” but you really don’t need to be a crafting genius to benefit from crafting. It can be an adult colouring book or doodling – these are also very mindful creative activities. If you wished you could teach yourself a craft such as crochet or knitting – something that interests you! There are so many tutorials these days on the internet and even books that learning a craft in today’s day and age is easier than ever and it’s so rewarding when you finally manage to make something which in itself is a real mood booster!
Happy Post
I decided to put my crafting to good use and offer ‘Happy Post’ to those struggling with mental illness.
I make and sell a lot of prints and so I decided to make “quote cards” with an inspirational theme. These are to send to those currently having a hard time with mental health issues. The smallest of things can sometimes help when you are in a dark place. I wanted to offer a little bit of hope with the aim to make people feel less alone.
I also blog about mental illness and am in the process of writing a book of my own experiences to try and help raise awareness.
You can see my blog, about me and nominate someone for a happy post at www.mentalhealthjourney.co.uk
If you’ve never tried a craft then give it a go! You never know you may just find something that you love!
