Getting creative

The Editorial Team have come together to share their experiences on how they've dealt with difficulties and helped their mental health through creativity.

- Student Minds Editorial Team

✨ How do you get creative to help your mental health? ✨

⭐ Emily T (Student): 

At the end of a stressful day, I always find myself reaching for the crochet hook. As I spend so much time reading and writing, crocheting allows me to express my creativity in a different way! Even though the craft requires quite a lot of concentration, it allows me to focus my mind on something other than academia. From choosing the colour of yarn to adding the finishing touches to the end product, crochet is a good way for me to slow things down when life feels far too busy! 

⭐ Madeleine (Graduate):

I find that when I am stuck not knowing how to express my thoughts or emotions, creativity can often come to the rescue. Sitting down with myself to really listen with a pen and paper has often led me to write poems about feelings I didn’t know I had before I sat down. Really taking the time to untangle how I’m feeling using creativity helps me enormously. It breaks down the big daunting emotions into manageable words expressed on paper in a neat way that can’t happen just in my head floating around. When words can’t express what I am going through, sometimes I go for the more artistic creativity, with a drawing or a collage. Whatever helps me at that moment. If in doubt, reading often helps calm my mind, putting my mind into a fresh new perspective that another’s writing can offer. 

⭐ Sarah (Student):

In-between deadlines and the busyness of student life, I like to take some time to myself to calm my mind. Doing something creative is the perfect distraction for me because it is relaxing while not being totally passive, so I can feel more of a purpose in what I’m doing. Recently, I’ve been getting back into reading. I used to read books all the time as a child - I was constantly in the library taking out the maximum loan of books! I’m not sure exactly when I stopped reading, but it feels really good to go back to what I used to enjoy. I feel like I’m getting back in touch with my roots - plus it’s the perfect way to escape from the stresses of university by entering the world of a story. 

⭐ Tayyibah (Student):

With a hectic uni schedule and deadlines to meet it is important to look after your mental health and well-being. The way I do this is to take time out to do some writing and more recently I’ve started to read books I once lost touch with. Being a uni student and having many academic books and journal articles to read meant I lost touch with the fiction books I used to read as I felt there wasn’t time. However, a great way for me to get creative if I don’t have time to read is to write. Writing for me helps relieve stress as I can use my imagination to create a story or sometimes write to reflect on my day and seeing all the positives helps boost my confidence.

Whether you are looking for support for your own mental health at university or supporting a friend, help is available.

Written by the Student Minds Editorial Team.

You don't need to talk to express!

Aquarius talks about his experience with mental health and how drawing, writing and painting has helped him through his struggles.

-Aquarius

Anxiety and depression can be difficult especially when you're a student. It can really impact your ability to do some simple tasks such as socialising, making friends and even affects you in the classroom where you get too nervous to raise your hand and answer. Sometimes it feels like you cannot do anything; like some people are against you and as if you are not good enough.

I have had anxiety for years since I was a child. It has been a difficult journey, but I have learned that it is possible to work with my anxiety and depression instead of working against them.

I have found that being creative can help to deal with my anxiety and depression. I think that sometimes, it is possible to channel those deep feelings creatively. I think that expressing how you feel through writing can be very powerful and that other people with similar experiences will appreciate your writing. But more importantly, it will give you that sense of achievement, appreciation and gratitude that you deserve for being you.

There are just so many ways that you can share your experiences without actually saying them out loud including writing stories or poems, you can even draw or paint! Before you say, “I can’t draw or write,” the great thing about creativity, is that it is subjective. Also, you do not have to be an expert to be creative. If blobs of paint at museums can be considered as art, then most things can! Your artwork is an expression of you, it’s like an extension of your heart, mind and soul, maybe you don’t want to share it with others, that’s totally fine, your artwork is yours, there are poems I write that I’d rather have for myself than show others, every time I feel upset or angry I just read it to myself and it gives me a sense of peace. It also makes a good conversation starter to likeminded people. Plants are another good way to help with anxiety and depression, something about planting a seed and nurturing it till it blooms is just unexplainable!

Recently, I have started watercolour painting.  I’ve never seen myself as an artist but once I started channelling my feelings into my paintings, I ended up painting things I never knew I could! Here is two I painted, a lavender field and a forest:

 

And after I finish? It’s hard to explain, but I feel this sense of peace and tranquillity and somehow it makes me feel more confident in myself. I experience a similar state when I write.  I started writing poems about my feelings. At first, I just let close people read them, when I saw them appreciate and enjoy reading them, I slowly started entering writing competitions. I ended up winning quite a few and got them published! My point is, you can create beautiful pieces of art with your feelings and emotions that not only you appreciate but everyone around you would also appreciate!

I used to struggle talking and sharing my thoughts and feelings, but I realised that I don’t have to speak to share! Since my art and writing contain all my thoughts, it made it easier for others to know how I was feeling without me telling them! And those times when I didn’t want to share? I buy seeds, and I plant flowers and fruits trust me it works!

You can visit Student Space to explore online resources, access direct support via text, phone, web chat or email and find the support available at your place of study. 

Hi, I'm Aquarius. I'm 20 and I've been suffering from anxiety and depression since I was a child. I write, draw and paint to explore my feelings and I wanted to share my story to show you how powerful creativity can be. 

5 ways creative writing can make your mental health better

Elle discusses how the power of writing can help make a difference to our mental health.

- Elle Renee Morgan

1. Seeing your name in print gives you a sense of satisfaction. You know how much work has gone into that piece, how much research that the content wears lightly, and how many words you have deleted or rearranged for the benefit of the reader. It’s there on the Internet or in print forever, and most publications have connections to other writers, so you’re part of something bigger. If it’s on your own website or blog, it’s a piece that can touch people in the midst of their chores or their own working days, and you are in complete control of how it’s laid out. If it’s on someone else’s media platform, this can open up doors to other readers you’d never heard of.

2. It’s not just about the reward; it’s about the journey to get there - how reflective are you being, in the act of writing itself? Doesn’t it take extreme strength to write a journal entry that doesn’t hide your flaws? Doesn’t self-awareness of destructive habits require a resilient mind that’s committed to change? Keeping a diary may be the only consistent, reliable task you have in life, especially right now, so in a world where the only certainty is great change, it’s nice to have something to depend on. Your voice and style will no doubt go through many changes, and you may even look back on your journal entries and cringe. But the promise of getting better as a writer is too great to give up, as you know that the hard work pays off in the end. The experience of climbing the mountain is just as great as the view at the top.

3. Writing, like any activity that requires extreme focus, takes you out of your own bubble and allows you to create. It requires mindfulness and a certain amount of meditation, even if you’re doing it without realising. Buddhist techniques have been used by Western practitioners for years in mental health and areas of wellbeing.

4. Writing is about connecting. This article has been written for you, the readers of the Student Minds Blog, who may be feeling a certain way because of the pandemic and recent events (deflated and unmotivated, perhaps?). Reaching out to other people on a blog is written confirmation that the person reading it, who may be struggling, is not alone.

5. Creating an alternative world where things are better, or you critique certain aspects of society, requires not only the use of imagination but a cathartic event, where you release old thought patterns and work on finding a solution. Writing about something that hurts you (for example, capitalist society and feeling like a ‘cog’ in a big corporation’s wheel) is not about ‘moaning’ or ‘ranting’. It’s to sense a gap in today’s world and form your niche there, finding like-minded readers who agree, or expanding the minds of those who hadn’t thought about it that way. Whatever the reason, writing is beneficial for everyone, and I truly believe everybody has a book in them somewhere. 

Visit Student Space for further support with your mental health or emotional wellbeing. 

I'm Elle Renée, a twenty-something who enjoys education, travel, literature and art. I am currently a content writer and is hoping to do a doctorate one day

Fine

TW: Eating disorder, bulimia and binge eating 

Linda shares the first poem she ever wrote exploring her issues with food.

- Linda

I have struggled with food for as long as I can remember. As a child, I struggled with binge eating and when I started University, I developed bulimia non-purging. The hardest part of having an eating disorder is telling people. After I developed bulimia, I felt like I needed to. I did not want to be invited out to eat. I did not want to talk about food, dieting, weight and exercise. For many people, these are topics that you do not bat an eyelid about – therefore, asking people “please can we not talk about x” felt unreasonable. 

I struggled with explaining my eating disorder to other people. Many people found it hard to imagine me restricting or excessively exercising as I was always at a “healthy” or overweight BMI. People did not to grasp that my eating disorder is less about food and how I looked, but more about control and trauma. It is completely understandable – it is hard to picture something that you have not experienced. Still, I sometimes felt a bit misunderstood, weird and isolated.

One of the ways that I can explore my issues around food is through poetry. I seem to perfectly sum up how I feel where spoken words fail me. This is the first poem that I wrote about my issues around food. I wrote it at around the age of sixteen reflecting back on my childhood experience with binge eating.

 

I am obviously FINE!

Not a care in the world.

After all, I am smiling,

laughing hysterically, joking

and quite literally bouncing around,

putting on a good show for the crowd.

 

Act over, curtains closed

and in the darkness,

I wipe off my smile because secretly,

I am dying. In silence. Within.

My mind wages war persistently –

it demands ‘MORE, MORE, MORE!”

and like a servant, I oblige.

I reason – or rather more, I don’t –

that I can fill the deep dark hole

residing in me with food

 

But it’s no good; I never feel whole

because I’m perpetually starving! Craving

a self-acceptance, respect and unconditional love

that can never come from food

and that I can never muster enough of

You can visit Student Space to explore online resources, access direct support via text, phone, web chat or email and find the support available at your place of study. 

I am Linda. I am currently studying a MSc at the University of Warwick. I am also a sub-editor for Student Minds. 

Swapping self-harm for poetry

*Trigger warning: this blog post discusses self-harm*

Angela shares some of her poetry on the topic of self-harm.

- Angela

Self harm has been a part of my life for over a decade, it’s something that often those around me can’t understand. Over the years I’ve taken to poetry to try to explain this addiction in ways that maybe someone may grasp. I spent a lot of that decade feeling alone in my behaviour and feelings. Writing has been helpful to my recovery as it’s helped me find words for things I was never given a vocabulary for. I guess I’m sharing it here in the hope that if you read this and also understand then you will know you aren’t alone.

Poem 1:

Our memories 

are just thoughts in 

a lifetime freezer, 

some burn when you 

try to dig them 

out of the corners 

covered in white ice,

but you still hold them 

tight in your bare hands 

until they are red raw.

Because then which hurts more, 

the memory or the ice? 

Poem 2:

My scars are not yours to stare at, 

they are signs of a Sahara desert 

that ran so dry for so long

that I had to dig deep to find signs of life.

That dry land can crack, down to its hollow core 

and it isn't water that pours out. 

The cracks go on for miles and miles 

across a skin I call home. 

Eventually the rains come 

but nothing can erase the trails 

of a drought that once lived within.

For support or more information on self-harm please visit Student Space. 

My name is Angela, I’m a languages graduate, Registrar and mental health campaigner. I like to start up honest conversations about mental health. 

Stairway to Success

Ritisha shares her own poetry about how struggling can sometimes come hand in hand with success.

-Ritisha 

Failure comes but finds me unafraid;

Instead it helps me focus on my goal

And makes me believe that

I am the master of my fate 

and the captain of my soul. 

Success is much harder to come by

But I won’t give up;

It may be as high as a mountain

But I won’t lose hope as I climb.

Instead embracing the challenges,

savouring the thrill of the fight,

I cling to my dreams

I will beat fear however hard it may seems. 

Visit Student Space for further support with your mental health or emotional wellbeing. 

I am Ritisha, I study in India in Amity International school. I love writing because I feel I can express myself better through writing. I feel all my anxiety and worries wash away from me when I write. 

Recipe of Happiness

Ritisha shares her poem about finding happiness in the things around you.

- Ritisha Roy

Welcome everyone,

Today's recipe is the recipe of happiness

Does the name make you jump on your toes?

Don't worry, you can humour me

So, the recipe of happiness

Consists of simple and sweet things

Like the chocolate of good hope and

Sweet whip cream of your mother's smile

Ah! Now that's what I'm talking about.

Bitter stuff is completely restricted

As it causes pain, sadness and only destruction

But a pinch of coffee would do no harm

Only adds extra aroma and a whole new charm.

Oh! By the way don't forget milk

Not only for good health, but to

Also make you lick your fingers!

Now blend all the ingredients

And let them mingle with each other

Have it any day to remove bad incidents

It brings a whole new feeling and makes your life brighter

Have a drink of this special hot chocolate

And I bet nothing else will be this great.

Visit Student Space for further support with your mental health or emotional wellbeing. 

I am Ritisha Roy, I study in India in Amity International school. I love writing because I feel I can express myself better through writing. I feel all my anxiety and worries wash away from me when I write.

Destructive Patterns and the Desire to Heal – Lost Again

Ari Anna shares her personal story with mental health and eating disorders, capturing in music the constant tug of war between the desire to heal and the tendency to fall back into destructive patterns.

- Ari Anna

"Lost Again" is an intimate ballad, born of real life and struggle. Ultimately, the song becomes a stirring call, a guiding light for those who suffer: ‘if I made it through this, so can you’. 

 

Easy to say, this road never ends 

And I’m running without seeing the way  

Lost in the dark, broken heart  

And I am watching myself doing it all again.  

I’ve lost again.  

Every time I play the game  

Here I am and I’m taking all the blame. 

I’ve lost again.  

In time I’ll learn to win  

But until then I guess I’ll let the sadness in  

Hungry, hungry, hungry for love  

Trying to build me up pound by pound  

Nothing more to be afraid of I’m getting off the merry-go-round. 

For more information or to support your mental health, see Student Space or the Student Minds webpage.

I am Ari Anna, a third year songwriting student. Whilst growing up, I have struggled with eating disorders. Music is what helped me overcome my struggles and to learn to love myself. These lyrics were written 2 years ago, but only recently I released the song, finally. I want to share my experiences with others and give them hope. 

Feeling like you're not being productive enough

Emma shares her poem on success and productivity to remind us to be kinder to ourselves when reflecting on what we’ve achieved in a day

- Emma Carlisle  

I wrote this poem during the first lockdown when the sudden change, loss of routine and social interactions left me struggling for motivation. I felt a lot of pressure to be making the most of the extra time I had gained from not having to go anywhere and was beating myself up every night before bed for not having been (in my eyes) productive enough that day. I feel that the concept of “productivity” can easily become quite toxic and impact your mental health. Therefore, it’s important to remind ourselves that all the little things we do each day like looking after ourselves, putting out the bins etc are all worthy of a pat on the back, as with every little step we take we are progressing. So if you ever have an “off” day and start getting annoyed at yourself for not having done enough, I hope you can bring to mind this poem and use it to help you change the way you’re judging your day and consequently be kinder to yourself. You’re doing a lot better than you think.

Find out more about what you can do to improve your wellbeing on Student Space.

 

I’m Emma and I’m in the third year of a chemistry undergraduate degree. Having struggled with poor mental health on and off during my time as a student due to putting too much pressure on myself to do well academically, I hope to be able to give some advice to those facing similar struggles.  

I wish you could see what I see

Matthew shares a poem about hope for a brighter future. 

- Matthew Bucktrout

This poem is inspired by the memories of people uncertain of where they are going or how they are going to make it. For everyone who is struggling now and who will struggle in the future, let these words guide you for these words are a sign of hope that we are not alone, and brighter times are on the horizon. To you I say, I wish you could see what I see...

 

For more support with your mental health, please visit Student Space. For more information on creative writing for the Student Minds Blog, see sub-editor Hannah's blog. 

Hi I’m Matt, a third year undergraduate studying physics at Durham. Like many other students, I've experienced the difficult mental side effects of the pandemic taking normal life away. I wanted to put some words on a page to show that we're not alone, however hard it may seem, and that there is a brighter, new world coming. For those who know me and those who don't, I will always be around to talk about anything or just to listen. Please don't hesitate to ask because a conversation really can save a life. When those dark thoughts take hold all we really want is someone to take our hand and show us the light and I hope with my words I can achieve this.

You'll always be my Dad

Luke shares a poem about losing his Dad to suicide. 

- Luke Sullivan

Content warning: this poem discusses suicide and grief. 

 

For more support with your mental health, please visit Student Space. For more information on creative writing for the Student Minds Blog, see sub-editor Hannah's blog. 

My name is Luke Sullivan and I live with an anxiety disorder. I further have lost my Dad to suicide. I would like to share a healthy way of how I channelled my grief of suicide loss into a poem.