Lower Anxiety with Crocheting

The first half of the year 2020 has been riddled with uncertainty and harsh events. The ushering in of the new decade has brought countless celebrity deaths, a worldwide pandemic, record-breaking unemployment rates, and racial injustice. Facing these types of problems on a daily basis can cause anxiety. 40 million people in the U.S. suffer from some form of anxiety. Fortunately, there are nonconventional ways that don't require a prescription that aide in treating anxiety in individuals. The craft of crocheting has been shown to have many health benefits to include lowering anxiety.

Crocheting is an art form of using two hook needles to loop together two strands of yarn or hair. Various designs and colors are used to create different patterns and styles. The activity is of low impact and cost-effective. The CDC recommends finding time to unwind doing activities that you enjoy to alleviate stress and anxiety. Crocheting is an activity that requires concentration and skill which causes the individual to focus. This can help to combat bad thought patterns that trigger anxiety symptoms.

Jackie Collins, Crocheter, uses crocheting as a form of self-care. "When I'm crocheting, it relaxes my mind and calms me down when I'm feeling overwhelmed", Collins said. Finding time to care for yourself is an important weapon when fighting anxiety. Busy schedules and daily chores can make it seem impossible to find time to practice healthy habits. Crocheting projects can be done over any given length of time, which eases the angst of rushing to complete a project.

Another way that Crocheting helps to ease anxiety is that it produces a hormone Seratonin. The hormone boosts the mood and is released from the repetitive motion of hooking and needling while crocheting. This is good news for people who struggle with hormonal imbalances which in turn may cause stress and anxiety.

Crocheting is not a new art form but many people are unaware of its mental health benefits. Spending some time learning and practicing the art will not only help you develop a new skill but a way of coping with troublesome times.