[Artchic528]

They are bright, colorful, and an essential part of our collective childhood. We all recognize their nostalgic waxy smell right away and laugh at their cheerful and wacky color names. Of course, I'm talking about crayons.

I'm partial to the Crayola brand myself, as I couldn't get enough of them as a kid. I've written at length about my obsession with them in my blog. They captivate me and bring back so many happy childhood memories, back before things got so very complicated. Back before I had to "adult" and get a job.

I have a few sets already in my possession right now, and yet, I just purchased another set. This set:



It has a whopping 152 different colors, with no repeats. There's the basic library of 120 different colors (some with zany names like Razzmatazz or Macaroni and Cheese), and then 16 metallic and 16 glitter colors as well. It also comes with a sharpener and a caddy to carry everything.

Maybe I'm getting entirely too excited over something so simple and so utterly infantile as a box of crayons, but dammit, I need something to be excited about these days.

I've even heard that these little nostalgic waxy sticks of varying pigments can also help to lift depression, if only for a few precious minutes. Do you believe this to be true? Can it really be so? What do you think? Can these seemingly simple creations really have such power as to awaken us from the depths of our most severe depressive episodes?

[childofchaos831]

I don't know if there is one true answer to your question, but I will say this... reading what you wrote, hearing the wonder and excitement of your words in my head, made me happy, like a five year old getting a new box of crayons.

I think it depends on the experiences we each had as a child, and how we relate to those experiences now, as we are older. I love stuffed animals, personally, and I think that's because there were days (and nights) that it felt like my stuffed animals were the only ones who really understood. It wasn't until I was older, I started to learn that I could express myself with words, poetry. I started to collect pens and pencils, ones that were different, special. And now, older, I collect lighters that I find pretty, because often the only break from the stress I get is going outside to smoke a cigarette and sit quietly and just be.

Different people connect with different things, depending on their experiences, but I just love the way you wrote about your new box of crayons.

I love crayons. I keep a Reeves set (they seem more greasy than waxy) hidden away out of anyone's else's touch. My children are adults but Santa still leaves a colouring book and crayons in their stockings each holiday.

I prefer colouring with a quality set of crayons to markers any day.

Are they a cure all for depression? Not on the long term. They more tackle the immediacy of a depressing difficult day. They don't keep the depression at bay. Still, they are a great distraction for the time.

[Werewoman]

I recently bought myself a 96 box of new crayons. I color often and I find it relaxes me. I tried the pencils but didn't like them. They just don't have the same feel to them. I can't say it cures my depression, but it certainly lifts it for a few which-color-should-I-choose-this-time moments, and I'll take all the happy I can get.

[divine1966]

I don't like crayons personally (don't like the feel or smell etc) BUT I have the same kind of excitement you have over other art products. Like paints or colored pencils or nice paper or canvas etc yes I believe it can lift your moods if you love art. For sure it can make you feel better

[splitimage]

Can't say it cures depression, but it can definitely make me feel happy for a little while. I use pencils as opposed to crayons, but I must admit your latest crayon set, made me jealous. Just might have to get one, once I get some money.

splitimage

I think that anything that makes a person happy, no matter if it's crayons, games, or anything else, is a great way to treat depression.

I honestly think that depression and most other mental health issues wouldn't be such a big deal if people were allowed to do more things that they love and are passionate without having to deal with people judging them for it or having to spend over 40 hours of week doing something that they don't like doing just to earn a living.

If only people had absolute freedom to live life as they choose, regardless if what they enjoy makes good money or not. I believe that humans were actually evolved to be passionate creative thinkers thanks to our creativity and intellect. If we were able to remain the curious passionate children we start off as, the world would be a lot better of a place I think.

[lizardlady]

152 CRAYONS!!!!!! I have crayon envy!

I don't believe coloring can cure depression, but it sure helps me feel better when I need a break.

Interesting reading everyone's comments about what they prefer to color with. For me it depends on my mood. If I'm feeling creative and want to make something "pretty" I tend to use colored pencils. Also use them for finer detail work. When I need to tend to my inner child I break out the crayons and a kid's coloring book.

Hmmm, I had something very upsetting happen at work this afternoon.
I think it's time to break out the coloring supplies and depressurize.

[Unrigged64072835]

I love crayons, and my daughter (who's 20) loves them too. There's nothing like coloring something to relieve stress and feel better for a while.

Our favorites, though, are the watercolor pencils.

[Artchic528]

Originally Posted by Fharraige

I love crayons, and my daughter (who's 20) loves them too. There's nothing like coloring something to relieve stress and feel better for a while.

Our favorites, though, are the watercolor pencils.

I just like to look at and smell them. Mmmmm.....that waxy nostalgic smell.

Also, I always wondered if you had rainbow colored poops if you ate a bunch of different colored crayons. Not that I would, but you always had that one kid in the class who ate them, so curiosity abounds. I bet so.

[Sometimes psychotic]

I have these ones they are crayons but have the colored pencil vibe and are excellent.

[Artchic528]

Originally Posted by Sometimes psychotic

I have these ones they are crayons but have the colored pencil vibe and are excellent.

Those look so cute!! Are they twistable like those Crayola twistable crayons?

[amandalouise]

your title question...do crayons cure depression? no crayons do not cure depression just like pens, pencils, colored pencils, markers they can not cure depression. here where I live they are writing, and coloring/ decorating utensils/ tools.

that said if you are a person who likes to use crayons it relax and calm you, just like someone who likes to work out at the gym will feel relaxed and calm after a hard work out, or someone who likes to cook will feel relaxed and calm after cooking something..

is this a cure no, its called doing something a person likes to do. if you like to do something of course doing that is going to make you feel happy and if you dont like to do something, doing that is going to make you feel bad...

example I enjoy using crayons where as my wife does not enjoy using crayons. we both have depression crayons for me helps me to feel happy and calm (not cured) my wife using crayons does not make her feel happy and calm, it makes her feel angry.

everyone has their own things that they like which in turn they feel happy. but curing depression no. crayons for me are just another tool I use but its not a cure.

[bdeslaur]

I don't know if crayons cure depression, but oil pastels sure do! I love their smell and smoothness when drawing.

[Sometimes psychotic]

Originally Posted by Artchic528

Those look so cute!! Are they twistable like those Crayola twistable crayons?

They are peelable paper with little strings....

[Sometimes psychotic]

Originally Posted by amandalouise

your title question...do crayons cure depression? no crayons do not cure depression just like pens, pencils, colored pencils, markers they can not cure depression. here where I live they are writing, and coloring/ decorating utensils/ tools.

that said if you are a person who likes to use crayons it relax and calm you, just like someone who likes to work out at the gym will feel relaxed and calm after a hard work out, or someone who likes to cook will feel relaxed and calm after cooking something..

is this a cure no, its called doing something a person likes to do. if you like to do something of course doing that is going to make you feel happy and if you dont like to do something, doing that is going to make you feel bad...

example I enjoy using crayons where as my wife does not enjoy using crayons. we both have depression crayons for me helps me to feel happy and calm (not cured) my wife using crayons does not make her feel happy and calm, it makes her feel angry.

everyone has their own things that they like which in turn they feel happy. but curing depression no. crayons for me are just another tool I use but its not a cure.

Yes but the b in cbt is behavior and it can treat depression so I think it's reasonable to call it a cure....

Originally Posted by amandalouise

your title question...do crayons cure depression? no crayons do not cure depression just like pens, pencils, colored pencils, markers they can not cure depression. here where I live they are writing, and coloring/ decorating utensils/ tools.

that said if you are a person who likes to use crayons it relax and calm you, just like someone who likes to work out at the gym will feel relaxed and calm after a hard work out, or someone who likes to cook will feel relaxed and calm after cooking something..

is this a cure no, its called doing something a person likes to do. if you like to do something of course doing that is going to make you feel happy and if you dont like to do something, doing that is going to make you feel bad...

example I enjoy using crayons where as my wife does not enjoy using crayons. we both have depression crayons for me helps me to feel happy and calm (not cured) my wife using crayons does not make her feel happy and calm, it makes her feel angry.

everyone has their own things that they like which in turn they feel happy. but curing depression no. crayons for me are just another tool I use but its not a cure.

I don't think anything can "cure" depression, at least not at this time.

The best bet is to do whatever you can to ease the pain. If art makes people less depressed or happy even, than that is as close to a cure that I think is possible with our current level of scientific knowledge.

[Werewoman]

I assumed the question was rhetorical.

I think everyone here knows that depression is treatable, and crayons are just one of many tools we use to make ourselves feel better. No one wants to find themselves in that abyss again once they've been there, so if a box of crayons keeps me away from the edge of that abyss even for just an hour, I'll get some. I'm all for anything that makes people feel better, even if it's just crayons.