Someone made a post sharing a subside awareness craft they made I know I have personally made some items as gifts and donations but I thought we could have a discussion among us.
Sometimes people you don’t see don’t know you it’s easier to open up. Let’s talk crafting and mental health some days it’s hard to talk yourself into crafting other days you do it to distract your own thoughts. It’s not something to be ashamed of it doesn’t make you lesser of a person crafter parent spouse it just make you you! I can be a chameleon and blend with plenty of people but I like my me time and personal bubble to many people drain me.
I have a bad habit of using crafting as a personal reward for completing another task so I don’t feel bad about taking that time for myself with making things that have I place to go but I like making things it should not matter if it doesn’t have a home to go to yet it makes me feel good making creating and putting together items.
Craft therapy is a real thing that hospitals use! It was my favorite thing in polytrama rehab after my second brain surgery and I still have some of the crafts I made during that time!
I can be my own worst critic and don’t see what I can contribute more then I care to admit but that’s what depression can do it’s it doesn’t always make since but part of pushing through is recognizing the dark and twisty thought and shingling light on them to take control.
I like to treat others how I would want to be treated even if the person drives me crazy don’t get me wrong I will vent to someone about what and who is driving me crazy because I don’t like keeping things bottled up the negative needs to be released and let go or it can win. I am a human and will never be perfect I can only try to be my best version of myself.
Hen your struggling how do you get out from the darkness and remind your you are enough?
This is a great topic!! Thanks for starting the conversation.
Thanks I know it’s kinda ignored but it’s something a lot of people deal with. I find sharping stories helps others and reminds them they are not alone.
I have actually been dealing with that since July. Not sure what is going on, but there are weeks that I don’t even want to walk into the craft room let alone make something. What I try to do in those instances is create something on my iPad. I have a ton of attempts at different SVGs that I’ve been trying to make. I know some of them will work out great, but others might need a tweak or two. Unfortunately I won’t know that until I get my butt in the craft room and cut them out, but I don’t feel crafty enough for that. It’s a huge complicated circle.
I am still struggling with that, but hope that as the weather cools, my room will cool off as well, and that might change my mindset.
I struggled for months with not wanting to go into my craft room I spent minimum time in it. I would make something and take the parts out of my craft room set up vinyl to cut leave the room come back when done and take it out of the room. Maybe something like that could be helpful for you.
I started crafting after my son died. I do mainly memorial items. When I’m creating something new I always use my son photo. It’s like my way of keeping his memory alive. But lately I’ve lost that connection with crafting. I’m slowly building that craft love back up. I’m going to be working on other items outside of memorial. I love crafting it helps with stress. Crafting is my happy place. I can’t wait to get more equipment so that I can keep creating!
I am glad crafting helped you heal and cope with the loss of your son! I hope you find something to reignite your connection with crafting!
You’re right, we all have our struggles. I also use crafting to cope with my depression, and I love that it’s okay to open up without judgment. I think I’m going through a tough time now, haha. I’m just busy with school and orders, so I can’t create any projects that I want to shatr right now, but thank you for sharing your thoughts on this topic.
As an individual that has an extremely stressful profession, my crafting abilities have served as relaxing therapeutic moments for myself. I commend you for sharing your story and have often applauded individuals who seek mental peace and comfort through the many crafting arenas.
This topic is one that some think is Taboo. But I feel like it should be talked about more, and be accepted in conversations. Everyone’s Metal health is so important that it can effect a persons physical health. Thank you for sharing your story and bringing this topic up. I hope this community will help each other out in more ways than just crafting.
I had to take 2 months off recently for my mental health. I stopped everything, crafting, working, I even stopped participating within the community. Every day was a struggle to even get out of bed. It felt like my whole world came crashing down around me and I was a total failure. I have started going to a physicist and it really helped to just talk through what has been happening. No one is ever ok 24/7 and I think it needs to be ok. Everyone is going through something at one time or another.
Keep positive everyone, theres always light at the end of the tunnel. 
It’s hard to see the light at the end of a tunnel of doom especially when you don’t realize your in it till you feel totally lost I have done mental health check-ins with for friends if I don’t hear from them for more then two days I usually message like he just wanted to make sure your good as you can be and if they had anything they wanted to vent about. Sometimes just being able to share out loud what’s on your mind can help it’s not always fun but having a friend listen and not judge can be healing. I am glad your doing better yourself and I hope things are a bit better each day still you can message me anytime if you want.
Yes, I too check in on a couple of friends if I don’t hear from them. I’m sure your friends love knowing that you care about them. Often knowing that helps them a lot more than we know. You are a kind soul, and I wish for your days to get brighter too. And ditto to you too, I’m always happy to talk.
Crafts have always been a part of my life. I learned them from my mother at a young age, and after I lost her, I continued doing what she taught me so that I could connect with her in some way. As an adult, I used crafts as an escape from very difficult situations like teenage pregnancy, psychological abuse, and other things. After all of that, I also had to go through postpartum depression that almost took me away. Then autism entered my life through my two children, and I ended up discovering that I have ADHD. So, crafts always save me when things are difficult, but there are times when, no matter how hard I try, I can’t create anything, and that makes me feel bad because I think I should be creating, which often ends up leading to mental exhaustion. Nowadays, I try to create things that bring a little knowledge about mental health and disorders. I feel we need to talk more about these topics. Mental health is no joke, and a simple criticism can ruin someone’s day.
When I’m in dark times, I think about how many people I can touch with a simple word or a simple gesture. I’ve learned that I need to be kind to myself even when impostor syndrome tries to make me believe otherwise.
That’s why I made that frame : “Be kind to your mind”… 
I am glad crafting has been a positive outlet for you in darker times and your still here with us crafting things.