Exercises in healing 

the arts as a tool to heal 

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As a child of maternal schizophrenia, you have an opportunity to educate a stigmatized world firsthand by a child who grew up in it.  As we benefit from others who had the courage to share their stories, recording our own by writing it out, visual arts  (ie- painting, photography)  or preforming arts, it helps us to process what we have survived emotionally. And empowers us to use the experience to help others.  

 

Using the Arts as a tool to heal are scientifically backed methods of emotional processing with proven mental and physical benefits.  Skills that writers use to create a novel coincidentally cultivate insight, something we were robbed in the confusion we  were raised.  The acclaimed Pennebaker method is simple.  A 20 minutes-4 day writing pre-curser to help process thoughts, feelings and focus. 

Translating that processing into imagery, dance or song is no less effective when it helps to process experiences- and educate others visually in what it means to be a family member secondarily impacted by schizophrenia.