This Girl’s Therapist Turned Her Onto Body Art to Distract From Cutting

Mental health is still an issue that is not discussed enough. With over 40 million people suffering from anxiety and depression, only 36.9% choose to seek help. Depression and anxiety can take on many forms such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, social anxiety, and even cutting.

Cutting is considered a sign of emotional distress in which the person is compelled to cut their flesh. But this coping mechanism can be stopped through therapy and art… as this Tumblr user recently shared!

She’s found that by drawing on her skin, it has helped stop the cycle of self-harm.

https://erkhaly.tumblr.com/post/113008695339/a-better-m-e-a-better-m-e-my-therapist-told

The responses were extremely supportive One person made mention how her designs resembled Zentangle Art and how drawing can relinquish the urge to perform self-harm.

What is Zentangle Art?

“Zentangle art is non-representational and unplanned so you can focus on each stroke and not worry about the result. There is no up or down to Zentangle art. If fact, you can most easily create Zentangle art by rotating your tile as you tangle — always keeping your hand in a relaxed position. You don’t need to know what a tangle is going to look like to draw it. You just need to know the steps. The result is a delightful surprise.”

Here is some beautiful Zentangle Instagram art to provide a few examples.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BqaRFMrBnKm/

They’re so ornate!

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1CeMfpAjl7/

And highly detailed!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BzDh6iGg_5b/

I’d love to be able to draw like this.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1CduXVnM-v/

Pretty mind-blowing

https://www.instagram.com/p/6wHKLBOlZC/

Simply gorgeous!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BzDh6iGg_5b/

Here’s a video showing the entire process

After Bishlamek Gurpgork‘s posted his reaction to using Zentangle art, many others stepped forward regarding cutting.

They believe this technique can help them.

Could art therapy help stop cutting?

Obviously it’s too soon to tell…

But we can always hold out hope…

It would appear this method is helping many, but always seek out medical advice when handling personal anxiety and depression issues. Everyone’s path to healing varies.