Let Your Pen Soothe Your Soul - Vol. 1

Bijou writes...

The United States has been observing Mental Health Awareness Month during the month of May since 1949. Each year, businesses, organizations, schools, and individuals dedicate this month to acknowledge those affected by mental illness by presenting innovative ideas, events, and programs to support the treatment and prevention of mental illness.

This month reminds us to recognize our wonderful CZT community that has found deep connections to the Zentangle Method through their own mental health journey, and who pass along the power of the Zentangle Method through teaching in their communities and beyond. They inspire others to tap into their creative abilities to soothe, heal, reignite, and empower... and they do the same themselves. We have asked some of our CZTs to share their stories this month and we thank them for their vulnerability in doing so. We hope these personal reflections remind our wider community how important it is to find a creative outlet and prioritize yourself.

Today we hear from Laurie Chester. She writes...

Back in 2015, I approached my 60th birthday with gusto: my children were grown and on their own, I had a thriving business, a healthy and fit body. What could possibly go wrong?

What I didn’t realize was that the depression and anxiety I had been hiding all my life was about to break loose and bring me to my knees. My maladaptive coping mechanisms worsened and I began a mental health journey searching for a way to “Find the ‘I’ in Me” that continues to this day.

I spent Christmas 2018 and the first month of 2019 in residential treatment for depression, anxiety and chronic PTSD. Yes, I spent time on a locked ward! During this time, I was exposed to multiple treatment modalities, some of which I had experienced before, others new: individual and group, equine, psychodrama, dance/movement, somatic therapies to acupuncture, Qigong, and yoga. All were useful in their own right, but what I most responded to was Art Therapy.

Returning home to VA, I sought out an art therapist to add to my treatment team. Doing that research led to me to a local therapist who offered workshops in something called Zentangle. Intrigued, I hired her to teach her workshop to a group of friends at my home.

I was instantly hooked! That Saturday afternoon in May 2019 marked the start of my foray into the glorious world of Zentangle and forever changed my life: I now had an outlet, a hobby, a way to escape all the chaos and turmoil in my head. Zentangle brought me a sense of peace I had so desperately needed.

The memorable year of 2020 soon followed: I had to quickly convert my business to a virtual format as we entered a protracted period of lockdown.

Zentangle literally saved my life: I produced over 300 tiles/Zentangle drawings during lockdown. I enrolled in CZT training class 36 and did the teacher training while sick with COVID! It has provided me with a sense of stability that I had not known before. It has been something I can turn to when my anxiety prevents me from doing simple day-to-day tasks like going to the store or making a phone call. It calms my mind, my fears, my memories. It has helped me find the “I in Me.”

Despite progress in acceptance and understanding of mental health struggles, I have found that few people understand, or, even more importantly, want to try to understand and listen to the world of those who struggle mightily with mental health issues. This has been a huge disappointment to me. I hope that by sharing some of my story, more will be open to hearing our stories of survival, and the role that instruments like Zentangle can play in preserving life and in helping with the healing.

As a reminder, we will release a 21-day series that invites our community to find 15-20 minutes for themselves each day from May 10th to May 30th. We focus on one tangle, one tile, one stroke at a time - simple, yet healing. You can find NEW Bijouisms and new videos each day in our newsletter and on our YouTube channel.