I’ve recently started the process of EMDR therapy with my counsellor. For those who don’t know, EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. Quoted from the Cleveland Clinic:
“EMDR is a mental health treatment technique. This method involves moving your eyes a specific way while you process traumatic memories.” So this is how I started!
The Container and Calm Place
The first thing I did was create a timeline of my most impactful memories, 12 good and 12 bad. We just started the intake process, but we’ve already learned two powerful techniques: Container and Calm Place. Even if you’re not doing EMDR, these are great tools to have in your mental health toolbox.
A container is a protected, metaphorical space you create in your mind. It can be anything that feels strong and secure to you like a vault, a treasure chest, or even a bubble. The only rule? It needs to be able to lock.
For my container, the first thing that popped into my head was this old jelly bean jar I had when I was younger. It was plastic, and when you opened it, a bunch of fake noodle things would shoot out. It was basically a prank jelly bean jar. For the lock, I imagined one of those ice cream pint locks I saw online. If you can’t picture what I’m describing, I’ve drawn it as a reference.
A calm place is a safe mental space you can visualize. It could be a beach, a forest, a cozy room, or any place where you feel completely at ease. It shouldn’t be somewhere associated with any bad memories for you or someone you know. It can also be entirely imaginary.
A Bit About My Mental Health Journey
Something that’s really important to me is being open about my mental health, in the hopes of helping others. Knowing you’re not alone can mean the world especially when you're in your darkest moments.
At times, my journey has felt completely overwhelming. And at other times, it felt manageable. I’ve lived with anxiety for most of my life, but it’s definitely gotten more intense over the years. Some days are better than others, but most of the time it feels like my whole body is buzzing with anxious energy that I can’t shake.
I also live with ADHD, and probably some undiagnosed OCD and Autism. And for a long time, like so many people, I ignored how I was really feeling.
Overstimulated? Oh well.
Anxious? Oh well.
Burnt out? Oh well.
I constantly told myself I was being dramatic, or that others had it worse. But here’s the thing: ignoring your emotions doesn’t make them go away. It just pushes them deeper, until they explode, sometimes as panic attacks, anxiety spirals, or suddenly bursting into tears in the middle of your day.
These “blowups” don’t come out of nowhere; they build up over time when we don’t give ourselves permission to feel, to process, or to rest. Nowadays, everyone has so much going on, and we rarely slow down to check in with ourselves. But we have to. Putting off getting help with thoughts like, “Yeah, I’ll get a counsellor eventually... life’s just busy,” only delays your healing. There’s never going to be a “perfect” time. You just have to take the first step and trust it’ll lead you somewhere better.
Where I am at now
I’m a super visual person, so the exercises we’re doing in EMDR really click for me. And even though we’re only at the beginning, I already feel like I’m building tools that will help keep me grounded when life gets intense. If you’re someone who struggles with anxiety, trauma, or just feeling overwhelmed in general, try making a container or a calm place of your own. It’s simple, but it really helps.
I’ll keep sharing updates here as my journey continues. Right now, I’m nervous... but also excited. And that’s okay!
A Final Thought & A Word From The Wife
Hello! The Wife here again, back with another little blog tidbit :-) So, art and mental health! My two most favourite things to talk about! I am someone who is also very open about my mental health, and it's something we believe in our household is important to discuss daily. I do volunteer and advocacy work for mental health, as it's something that has affected my whole life. I'll tell you a little bit of my story about how art and mental health have affected me.
2 years ago, I spent some time in our local hospital in a psychiatric ward due to worsening mental health. I won't get into too much detail but basically I was diagnosed with some disorders that really made sense for the things I was struggling with. While I was in the hospital, I was able to pick up art again, after not doing any art for a long time. From the time I left home at 17 until 25, life was go go go. Changes, grief, loss, my first apartment, my first job, college, practicum, then getting my first job in the field I went to school for. Never did I ever make the time to get creative, especially when I was working. I used work as a distraction for my mental health struggles, anxiety, panic, depression and mood dysregulation, so it was all I thought about.
I had picked up art as a coping mechanism in the hospital, and some of the other patients staying at the same time as me had given me compliments, asked me to draw them things, etc. which really helped motivate me to keep going when I left. I still have some art I did while I was there: a drawing of my cat, who I missed cuddling for the month I stayed, some silly bears saying swear words, some colouring pages, etc.. it just felt good to connect with my inner artist again, and I held onto that feeling and ran with it.
One of my favourite creative activities was going on walks with the group (if and when you were approved by your psychiatrist that you were okay enough to go), we would walk through the beautiful neighbourhoods near the hospital, well maintained yards full of beautiful flowers, I collected rocks, sticks, pinecones and flowers in a little disposable cup I would bring with me, to make art with once I returned. I made tiny bouquets for the friends I met, I made art for my husband and friends, I wrote letters to my best friend, and I made dried flower art using flowers I found and placed them in paper towel and between books, placed under the super heavy chair I had in my room, to dry them out. I started listening to music again, while I made art, and while I did my daily walking laps around the entire hospital floor.
Once I got a better grasp on my mental health, I was properly medicated and put into DBT therapy, I found my love of being creative again, and began drawing on the iPad and learning how to use Procreate. Once I started to take care of myself, do self-care and heal my mind, I was able to feel less heavy, and more free to pursue my passion for creativity. Since then: I've become much better at using procreate, I've painted, drawn, made miniature clay pots, made fairy garden terrariums, customized letters and envelopes, and my plans for future arts and crafts are EVEN more exciting, once we get moved into our new place, where we both will have the space to do incredible art projects, with so much more room. We will finally be able to play with our materials and supplies we have had packed away for which we are VERY excited, I'm basically vibrating with excitement.
Despite my challenges back then (and still now), it was art that brought me back to life again. Being able to be detached from every single distraction and outside source forced me to creative. My mental health issues are incredibly difficult, and has caused me a lot of distress in my life, however; all my experiences in life have led me to this moment right now, as an active digital artist who draws every single day, who will soon be seeing my work in stores, working towards things I never thought I could achieve. Art has saved my life more than once before, and I'm so grateful to be making things I love and continuing to learn every day.
Keep creating, it's a great way to take care of yourself, while at the same time making things you are proud of. Art has no rules, no judgement and no limits, so it's a wonderful activity for those of us who struggle with mental illness, because it's in those moments you're making and learning that you start to build confidence, self-esteem and a strong connection to yourself and your passions.
Big hugs from yours truly,
The Wife
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