In psychology, art therapy refers to the use of artistic techniques to treat mental disorders and improve mental health. Art therapy is a therapeutic technology rooted in the idea that creative expression can nurture healing and mental well-being. Creating an artwork of your own or enjoying someone else's work of art enables people to explore their emotions, identify with who they are, deal with stress, improve their self-esteem, and improve their social skills. The American Art Therapy Association describes art therapy as an approach to mental health, a process of applying art to improve mental, physical, and emotional well-being.

The techniques used in art therapy can be used in many ways, including drawing, painting, coloring, sculpting or collage. When using art as a therapy, clients have the opportunity to analyze what they have created and how they feel about it. By exploring their art, people can explore themes and conflicts that affect their thoughts, feelings and behaviors.

This does not require any or special artistic ability.

When can art therapy be used,

• For children with behavioral or social problems at school or at home

• For children with learning disabilities,

• For adults suffering from stress

• For children or adults who have experienced a trauma

• For people suffering from a head injury

• For people with cancer,

• For people suffering from depression

• For older people

According to one study, this is something that researchers have discovered that the participants’  blood cholesterol levels dropped by 75% within 45 minutes of drawing. Cortisol is a hormone associated with stress.

As normal people, we who are stressed due to daily activities can be relieved by drawing. You do not have to have special abilities for this. Draw something you like, can be painted or sculpted anything you like.You can buy coloring books at the market. You can give your creations as a gift to your family, friends or relatives. Creating birthday greeting cards is also a fun activity.

Let us now see how drawing or coloring can bring happiness.

1. You feel you have gone back to your childhood. 

You do not have to be good at drawing or painting to be relaxed with it. When we were little we used to draw and paint anything we liked without even thinking about the aesthetic beauty of the painting. How happy were we?

That happiness comes to you even when you’re grown up and  drawing or painting like that. No matter how old we are, we all have a small child living in us. As we draw and paint, we have the opportunity to connect with the little child who lives within us. Little children are the ones who are happy. That is why we can be so happy when connecting to the inner child of us.

2. Drawing can divert our minds.

If you are stressed due to the monotony of daily life or a problem you are facing, drawing can take your mind away from it. As you draw, you will slowly realize that you are stopping thinking about unnecessary things. You will realize that your mind is clearer so that you can make good decisions in life.

3. Drawing or painting is something like meditation. So your mind will be calm. When the mind calms down, the stress disappears automatically.

4. Drawing and coloring also help to increase your focus.

When you draw and color you give your full attention to it. If you draw and color regularly The focus that you develop while you are drawing will clear your mind in the long term.It allows you to focus on the problems of daily life with a clear mind and make the right decisions.

5. It Increases your creativity.

Because drawing and painting can increase your creativity you start thinking new and  different.The way you express your love to someone you love will change in a creative way. You will start creating some things for them. This will make your life more interesting.

6. Color stimulates the brain.

Sometimes when you feel sad, anxious or depressed, you may experience that the colors instantly elevate your mood.When you see a beautiful colorful flower, a flower garden, when you see a green lawn, when you see a blue sky, you are happy, aren't you? Of course blue, yellow, green, purple and orange are the colors that can create a bright mood. When you play with these colors (painting pictures) your mind will relax and your stress will slowly decrease.

Often those who had done art, dance, music, and sports during school times, slowly move away from these activities after getting a job or getting married. For many, their main hobby is watching television and using a computer or cell phone. The range of hobbies and interests we have  should increase in order to live happily.  So don't stop activities like drawing, painting, playing musical instruments, dancing and playing games that you loved in  childhood, when you became an adult.