[Standup2me]

I've noticed that many people here do crafts.
Are you doing them for a therapeutic factor?
Do they calm you?
Do they focus you?
What do you "get" out of it?

[Daonnachd]

Usually, my art is therapeutic, providing both focus and calm. However, this one (http://forums.psychcentral.com/album...ictureid=51819 ) was not calming, as you can probably tell. All the others in my gallery were calm, though.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

It's calming and a lot of things I can do automatically enough that I can actually do something when I'm not well enough to focus on anything I'm not used to doing. Like last Christmas I made patchwork tablecloths that took hours of work but it was so automatically done that it was almost soothing even though I was a complete mess. Knitting is the same way; I don't have to think, just knit.

However doing something new and complicated never happens unless my brain is able to focus somewhat.

Crafts calm me, especially crochet. I also like the feeling of accomplishment when I complete a project. It adds to my self esteem and quality of life. It can really take me out of my head. It mostly helps with my anxiety.....I can't craft if I'm sufficiently depressed though.

[wildflowerchild25]

I used to do many crafts. I used to sew and knit and make jewelry. I even worked in two craft stores (Michael's and jo Ann's) for a collective four years of my young adult life.

I used to love making jewelry. I still have all my beads. Someday I think I'll make another necklace but I just don't have the same connection I used to have with it. It used to calm me down and destress me but I dunno. I just don't do it anymore.

Every winter I say I'm going to knit myself a scarf and I never do. I still have a bunch of yarn left from my knitting days. Maybe this year I'll pull it out.

I dunno, this thread has sort of inspired me to go back to my crafting ways. We will see!

Crafts (not as much as art, but anyhow...) can put me in The Zone.
A place outside of time. Wish I could live there.

I like the sense of accomplishment too, but The Zone only exists in the doing.

Feels good. I get totally engrossed. The focus, the listening to it talking to me. I take off from general design idea and go from there. Where's it going? Can't say till it's there!

Tends to crowd out brain crap, and that's as good a reason as any to do it.

[VerMOZZica]

I love doing crafts when I can manage it.They do bring on a sense of calm for me.When I`m doing them it helps me to focus on what I`m doing instead of just thinking about everything.I like to make collages and to draw a little.Sometimes I do a little sewing too.

[SickCycleCarousel]

I dont exactly do the craft thing but i love to sketch! When im very low, thousands of thoughts running through my head, massive anxiety or im at the point of being suicidal, i sketch! I just started it up again after years of not touching it. It used to help keep me occupied when my insomnia would have me up for days at a time. I just suddenly feel the urge to sketch in times like that. It helps me to focus completely on one thing & slows down my mind from going in a million directions at once. I use full concentration just on that one thing & slowly my body & mind starts to relax, i feel like i can breathe easier coz i know what direction my mind is focusing on. It helps me so much! Weirdly enough though, i also find doing the washing therapeutic hahaha!

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[Unrigged64072835]

I like to do crafts. It helps me focus and not get caught up in my thoughts.

[HALLIEBETH87]

I live crafting. So soothing!!