Relieve Anxiety With Photography As A Therapeutic Tool
Anxiety is a set of emotional responses such as discomfort, tension and fear that is experienced when faced with a stimulus or situation that is experienced as threatening and can make everyday life difficult.
The presence of anxiety does not imply pathology; It is an adaptive response to events in the environment. It is considered pathological when it significantly interferes with daily life.
On the other hand, anxiety can be a trait when it presents as a person’s natural tendency to respond with a certain level of anxiety, in a stable manner over time, and reflects the person’s way of being and doing things.
It is understood that a state of anxiety exists when an anxious response to a specific and specific moment being an adaptive response to the need of the situation (Allport, 1961).
On the other hand, people with trait anxiety tend to be:
Anxiety disorder, that disorder not understood
Anxiety disorder is one of the most common sets of psychological disorders in the population. It is estimated that more than 28% of the population has had an anxiety disorder throughout their lives. However, it is not always well understood by the person’s environment, and The severity of the problem is underestimated, which can negatively affect daily life It can cause a person to feel helpless and have low self-esteem, which increases anxiety and even sadness and depression.
The anxiety crisis is reflected in the sudden appearance of numerous somatic and psychological symptoms and a feeling of imminent danger, in a short period.
Creative therapy as an alternative in your treatment
Recent studies have shown that the effects of anxiety can be reduced through creative therapy. Photography as a therapeutic medium is a highly effective tool to relieve anxiety and its symptoms.
The history between photography and psychiatry goes back almost to the beginning of the former. Its use as a means of recording and documentation was used by psychiatrists well into the 20th century, when the potential of photography as a therapeutic medium was discovered (Cornelison, 1980), focusing on the portrait of the patient.
In expressive psychotherapy, photographic snapshots are used as an intermediary tool between more or less forgotten memories along with the feelings to process, and these experiences are delved into to re-elaborate and reinterpret them psychologically (Walker, 1982). The patient becomes an active protagonist by being able to make his or her own photographic images.
But it was Judy Weiser who used photographs as an expressive vehicle in her psychotherapeutic work with deaf children, referring to this practice as “PhotoTherapy” in 1973.
The great advantage of using photography is that currently most people have a camera on their mobile phones. We are accustomed to using the camera, so it does not represent a barrier to its use Unlike other expressive techniques that can generate resistance such as painting or drawing, photography entails a certain degree of security in its execution.
Change perspective
If there is something that characterizes photography, it is the ease with which it allows you to change perspective From the subjective reference, perspective refers to the way in which something is seen. Perspective is taken as the relationship that exists between the objects in an image.
Thus, the subjective point of view from which the person interprets the anxiety-triggering event can be altered, and it is possible to take a new approach.
To photograph the world you have to go out
Although an anxiety crisis is unexpected, the first usually appears when one is experiencing a highly stressful situation, with great emotional tension and high anxiety (Barlow, 1998).
An anxiety attack does not necessarily imply a panic disorder. Nevertheless, The anticipatory fear of suffering a new crisis can cause avoidance behaviors such as fear of being away from home, in crowded places closed spaces such as elevators, traveling by public transport, driving, etc.
To manage the state of anxiety, it is recommended to exercise, walk outdoors, or any activity that causes the appearance of endorphins. In this sense, photography is a motivator to go outside the home environment. Nature as a source of inspiration for photography helps expand the comfort zone.
Pay attention to the small details Stopping to observe the environment looking for new textures, colors and shapes encourages people to expand their comfort zone. The environment becomes less hostile and more reliable.
How to strengthen self-esteem with photography to relieve anxiety
One way I use creative therapy to relieve anxiety is by creating simple photographs. It is suggested that the person take a photo every day as a way to connect with themselves and the present moment
Among the advantages of using photography to relieve anxiety, the following stand out.
Slow down your thoughts.
You observe the environment from a new way.
Pay attention to the present.
Vitality is encouraged.
You reflect on your own perspective.
There is a correction of distortions of certain life experiences.
A simple and very effective exercise, which I have verified in consultation, is propose a personal photography project The project consists of representing three parts: me, myself and the other, me and the world. It allows you to delve into the subjective vision of your own way of being, the acceptance of facts, and how you relate to interpersonal and intrapersonal phenomena.
Together with the participant, the photos taken from one session to the next are observed, in order to delve deeper into the feelings and emotions evoked by them.
As a therapist, the person is guided with questions, to help personal discovery and become more aware of some aspects of one’s own personality and way of being.
Photography is a journey of self-discovery Non-invasive, it provides the person with tools to manage their own emotional world. Photography invites you to take a moment to notice what you are feeling in the current moment.
Barlow, D. H. (1988). Anxiety and its disoders: The nature and treatment of anxiety and panic. New York: Guilford Press.
Sandín, B. and Chorot, P. (2009). Concept and categorization of anxiety disorders. In Belloch, B. Sandín and F. Ramos (2009). Handbook of psychopathology (revised edition, volume II). Madrid: Mc Graw Hill.
Martínez, Ó., 2016. Photography as a therapeutic instrument in mental health. Atopos. Mental health, community and culture, (17), pp.66-83.
