Creativity and Mental Health

I’ve faced my share of anxiety and melancholy, and the onset of menopause has certainly intensified the mood swings. (Ladies, can you relate?)

But instead of seeing this as a burden, I’m beginning to embrace it as part of my transformation.

Life is full of challenges that can either hold us back or help us rise higher. For me, it’s been a catalyst for growth.

Sure, it shows up in moments of negative self-talk, self-doubt, and feelings of unworthiness—but I refuse to let those thoughts define me. They’re not truths; they’re just echoes of old patterns I’m learning to dismantle, one thought at a time.

As an empty nester, I found myself confronted by the silence of my home, once filled with the sound of children’s voices. At first, it terrified me, but over time, that silence became my teacher. Instead of running from it, I leaned into it, realizing what seemed like an emotional breakdown was actually an opportunity for a breakthrough.

I remember hearing the phrase, “You’re not being buried; you’re being planted.”

At first, I didn’t understand it; I felt like I was being buried alive. Now I see that the silence wasn’t meant to break me; it was meant to make me. It’s where I started listening to my emotions instead of suppressing them.

Rather than letting my feelings overwhelm me, I began asking, “What do I need?” I gave myself permission to pause, reflect, and honor those needs. It hasn’t been an overnight change, but I’ve started to transform my emotions into fuel for my creativity.

Writing, journaling, connecting with other creatives, meditating, and taking walks in nature have become essential practices. These aren’t just distractions from my struggles; they are ways I use challenges to deepen my craft and share my stories.

I’ve realized that these emotions don’t hold me back; they enrich my creativity and connect me to others on similar journeys.

After years of misunderstanding my own creative process, I now see it clearly: My creativity—and the vulnerability required to share it—is vital for my mental health. It’s a healing force that strengthens me, and through it, I hope to inspire others to reclaim their power and voice.

To everyone reading this, I encourage you to nurture your mental health by staying connected to what makes you feel alive and authentic. Our inner struggles deserve compassion, not judgment. What we give to ourselves is what we can offer others.

Through writing, I’ve found strength and healing, and I hope my words can do the same for those who read them.

How does your creativity empower your mental health?