I found this useful in my first year of recovery. I couldn’t write yet alone write my own name four months after leaving hospital.
I got a text message from an old school friend asking if she could come to my home for a visit, I was delighted to have the offer of her company. We were in the same art class together.
What she brought with her surprised me, pencils, pens and pads. She showed me how to hold a pencil again and just make random shapes and she would return in 2 days. On that visit she brought Zentangle books, colouring books and pencils. The idea she had was to create control and focus, mistakes didn’t matter. Within 7 days I was writing my name not perfectly or in a straight line, but I was writing my name.
I carried on with the Zentangle which was terrific for concentration and control.
Colouring books and Zentangle books are fantastic aids for relaxation, concentration, focus and a fun thing to do, alone or with partner/carer
Art is great because it probably uses the side of the brain that wasn’t damaged, typically on the left, but also it calls into use the parts of the brain involved with dreaming. That alone is significant. I can’t draw or paint but I have found painting stuff, that is things like figurines cathartic. When I say figurines I am going to show a side of me that many others will view as geeky or nerdy. I have included a picture. Having said that, I also enjoy painting stuff like doors and furniture, so it all balances out
Maybe geeky or nerdy but in the best possible way. A long time since I’ve painted anything like that, I often wish I could find time to start again. Old wargamers never die…
@JimBob65 An Art tutor in my Company gave me a Zentangle book for the times where I wasn’t busy and they are enjoyable. I am now extremely busy in work but now and again I use my Zentangle book s I find it relaxing. That’s amazing that you learned to write your name, Well done Have a great day
Please check first whether the intervention will be enjoyable to the recipient. I was mightily offended when being given what I saw as children’s colouring booiks to play with, colour in and copy because I am a reasonably competent artist and found it insulting. Stroke or not, I can still draw.
@Dexster I fully understand your comments and your reasoning but not everyone is a competent artist. It may help an individual who is struggling with hand control, delicate movement, concentration and relaxation.
I am also a very competent artist. I have raised thousands for Children’s Hospices Across Scotland by selling my paintings over the last few years. I only mention this as it’s not about an individuals art capabilities but the reasons I have suggested above.
I started colouring after my stroke & it really did help with getting some control back in my affected arm/hand. I wasn’t and never will be an artist but to me it didn’t matter what it looked like just that I could do it.
The purpose was not for my hand control, as it was my unaffected hand that was being used. It was a psychology thing, and as such was counter-productive, so I was simply flagging up that the best of intentions for an exercise don’t always help, and that the recipient needs to be fully on board with what they are being tasked to do.
I have been building on my prior art skills to help with low mood and neuro plasticity.
Progress is very much up and down. Sometimes I like to simply colour in, sometimes I am doing a full painting and sometimes I won’t even entertain it but as we all know our recovery and therefore our willpower is not linear.
My issues are restricted to cognitive but I get horrendous fatigue and my hands shake which means I am having to adapt but mostly get frustrated. I am super critical of everything I make now and I am unhappy with my work despite what others say because I have to work so much harder it doesn’t seem as enjoyable as it once was. I
I could be wrong, but this character trait is often associated with genius.
Super talented and tormented geniuses e.g. van Gogh, John Lennon and many others.
Do persevere and do share - you are truly talented
Diolch for sharing your inner experience of achieving these brilliant works, the viewer will not see that, they see what you have done and enjoy it nonetheless. Your pain is separate from that work but perhaps can only be seen if you paint that. If you paint to escape the pain, it won’t be seen, only you will be critical of the technique &c, and as I have a lot of artist friends, I think that is inescapable, stroke or no stroke. They are marvellous.
Have a great day
