It's no secret that the mind and body are interconnected. The foods we eat, the amount of sleep we get, and the way we think and feel all affect our physical health. However, what you may not realise is that the reverse is also true; our physical health can have a profound impact on our mental well-being. This is especially true when it comes to neurobiology, or the study of the nervous system.
Creative arts therapy is a type of psychotherapy that uses creative arts activities to improve a person's psychological and physical well-being. While it is most often used to treat mental illness, recent research has shown that creative arts therapy can also be an effective treatment for neurobiological disorders. Let's take a closer look at how creative arts therapy can help improve neurobiology.
How Creative Arts Therapy Can Help Improve Neurobiology
Neurobiology is the study of the nervous system, which includes the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. This branch of science focuses on how neurons function and interact with each other to produce thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. Because of its complex nature, neurobiology can be difficult to understand and treat. However, recent research has shown that creative arts therapies can be an effective treatment for neurobiological disorders.
Creative arts therapies are based on the premise that the mind and body are interconnected. The theory is that by using creative activities to express oneself, one can access parts of the brain that might otherwise be inaccessible. This can lead to improved psychological and physical well-being.
While there are many different types of creative arts therapies, some of the most commonly used include:
• Dance/Movement therapy: Uses movement to improve physical functioning and mental well-being
• Art therapy: Uses art materials and activities to promote self-expression and healing
• Music therapy: Uses music to promote emotional growth and self-awareness
• Drama therapy: Uses role-playing and storytelling to improve social skills and emotional insight
Each type of creative arts therapy uses a different approach to treatment, but they all share the same goal: to improve neurobiology by providing patients with a way to express themselves emotionally and creatively.
Recent studies have shown that creative arts therapies can be an effective treatment for a variety of neurobiological disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, dementia, Parkinson's disease, stroke, traumatic brain injury, substance abuse disorders, anxiety disorders, depression disorders and schizophrenia. Creative arts therapies can also help improve cognitive functioning in children with ADHD.