In the ever-growing slew of opioid alternative pain management strategies, art therapy shows promise in modifying emotional and physical pain-related problems, according to Harvard Health Publishing.
"Art therapy does not replace the need for pain medication, but it can be used as an effective complement and reduce perceptions of pain experiences," Kelsey A. Skerpan, an art therapist with Harvard-affiliated Boston-based Massachusetts General Hospital, told Harvard Health Publishing. "It can help people better manage the symptoms of stress and anxiety that accompany pain, which assists with the recovery process and improves quality of life."
Here are three things to know:
1. Art therapy helps a patient lower their perception of pain through moving focus away from painful areas.
2. It is more than a simple distraction, teaching patients relaxation to alter their moods, so pain doesn't dictate the patient's emotional state.
3. A recent study published in The Arts in Psychotherapy examined how 200 patients reacted to 50 minutes of art therapy. Patients reported significant mood improvements and lower pain and anxiety levels, according to the study.
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