"Creativity" (Family and Friends)

Hi everyone,

Welcome to the Forum’s new topic! 

We have heard your feedback, so we will be regularly posting new topics to give you the chance to reflect on your journey so far. We will be including content around topics such as gambling harms research, news articles, reflections from GamCare staff, and more.

This week’s topic is “creativity”.

When under stress or during the recovery journey (especially in early recovery), we can find ourselves feeling restless, bored, and wanting to escape. By engaging in creative activities, this can help to pass the time in a positive and self-affirming way. The Mental Health Foundation further highlights that mental health can be improved through creativity. This may be engaging in arts or any hobbies that allow us to explore our creative side, and express emotions without needing to use words. https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/blogs/how-arts-can-help-improve-your-mental-health

Thinking “creatively” is also important for us when we are looking to problem solve things we are facing. By being able to be more flexible in our approach to problems, we may be able to come up with solutions that we were previously unable to see.

Importantly, verywellmind.com have an article that explores the ways in which we can increase our own creativity. You can read it here: https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-boost-your-creativity-2795046

So, what are your thoughts?

How has creativity been a part of your journey so far?

Is engaging in creative activities important to you?

How do you usually problem solve? Is there anything you do to help you think creatively about solutions?

We would love to hear your reflections below!

All the best,

Lulu

Online Peer Support Team