How do I get over anxiety?

How can I get rid of my anxiety to bring back my artistic spark?

• Hey there. So I've applied to an art school but I have a bit of a problem. All my life I've been known for my exceptional skills in drawing (I'm not perfect but I'm really good). When I was younger I didn't really have a care in the world. I would draw anything I like on a daily basis. I honestly don't remember a time back then when I didn't have a sketchbook and a pencil. Until my fourteenth birthday, all my parents use to get me for Christmas or my birthday were various art supplies. Even in art class my art teachers spoke very highly of me and anytime a project was handed out that required a drawn picture I was top pick for partners. I had a lot of promise for art. But I digress... Lately, I've been so uptight and even suffering from GAD (general anxiety disorder) that I've all but lost my artistic skill. I don't feel that same inspiration when I was younger or even the desire to draw in general and I miss that. Since I'm going to an art college I want to be able to make art whenever I want with less difficulty that I do now. A few factors have been affecting this such as depression, anxiety, feeling like I'm never good enough, my father who always taught me to never wear my heart on my sleeve, my mother who taught me to always ask questions. As a result, I never allowed myself to feel inspired to draw or always asked myself "what's the point?" when I want to draw something. I'm sick of feeling depressed and anxiety and just want to be able to relax and be myself enough to bring back my artistic side. Lately I've been able to write short stories but they don't satisfy my artistic endeavors long enough and so I get bored. I also think that stress at work is kind of blocking my artistic desires. Even though I can see something and want to draw it, I never have the motivation to do so. I want to not only start drawing again but get into other artistic endeavors like painting, sculpting, ect. I want to pretty much become a full fledged artist and even though I know I will probably learn these things if I get accepted into this art college, my core problem is my inspiration to make art. My past art teacher from when I was in high school feels that I have a lot of potential however according to her "You take yourself too seriously. You need to relax, you can't let the stress in life get to you" and I gotta agree with her. This basically is two different questions: One how do I calm my depression, stress and anxiety? The second is how to I rekindle my artistic inspiration? Please help...

• Answer:

  It's interesting that I came across this, because I'm dealing with the same thing. I guess the first thing you have to do is learn the causes of your anxiety and depression problems and learn how to cope with them. You could do this in "artistic ways" by just scribbling out your feelings. If you are angry, sad, anxious, just get a piece of paper and scribble away. You could also journal what you are feeling, that sometimes gets the creative juices flowing inside of you. One anxiety related cause that's preventing me from doing art, is that I'm a perfectionist, and a people pleaser. I feel as if everything I do needs to be perfect, which in fact makes me even more unmotivated and uncreative. But art doesn't need to be perfect right? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Now idk if this is what you are feeling, but if it Is, who cares what others think, it doesn't need to be fabulous, just do art. As for inspiration, you could just start by creating art through your feelings. If you are sad, draw sad people, or use dark colors. If you are anxious, make crazy patterns with bright colors. Just take little baby steps until you are comfortable enough with creating art again. You may need a little outside help with your anxiety and depression, as in medications and therapy. That may help, but it's not guaranteed. When you are creating art, just take deep breaths, be loose, and don't overthink things. Good luck I hope this helps somewhat :)