The article “Distraction, expression, or a moment of joy: How creativity helps people with arthritis” from Versus Arthritis talks about how creative activities like art, music, and writing help people with arthritis manage their pain. It explains that these activities can serve as a distraction, making people focus on something other than their pain. For example, Laura, who has juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), says that crafting helps her forget about her pain. She shares, “The best thing about crafting for me is that it either makes me forget that I am sore, or I’m enjoying myself so much that I don’t mind being sore afterwards” (Veritus Arthritis, 2024). This shows that being creative can help people with arthritis find moments of happiness even when they’re in pain.
Steph, who also has JIA, adds that making art helps her connect with others who are going through the same struggles. She says, “Being creative at Joint Creativity definitely gave me a break, time to see people, have fun” (Veritus Arthritis, 2024). This highlights how creative activities not only help with pain but also provide a chance to meet others, talk, and feel less alone.
The article shows how creativity can be a powerful tool to help people with arthritis feel better emotionally and physically, while also connecting with others.
References
Distraction, expression, or a moment of joy: How creativity helps people with arthritis. Versus Arthritis. (2024, April 12). https://versusarthritis.org/news/2024/april/distraction-expression-or-a-moment-of-joy-how-creativity-helps-people-with-arthritis/
LaGarde, M. (n.d.). Window to my Past Mistakes [Oil on Canvas]. Digital. https://www.marylagarde.com/blog/blog_posts/the-power-of-narrative-art
