A mandala, brightly coloured, with focus and detail
Mandala’s and adult colouring. Are you a colourist who believes this is the latest therapeutic weapon in the arsenal of bipolar coping tools? An opportunity to gain focus, achieve mindfulness and reduce anxiety.
Do you think it’s just another trend? Perhaps the fun factor appeals to you? Pretty colours and intricate patterns allow a creative outlet. Bored, or just want to unwind? Whatever your theory on adult colouring – it never fails to release the inner child AND IT’S FUN!
Here is a simple 3D mandala to get you started. Not quite as intricate as the above image, it’s a free printable download to get you on your way. Enjoy!
Our Lived Experience 
I bought myself a colouring book for Christmas ;-) It really is fun! I don’t find it reduces my anxiety though – in fact, it kinda increases it because my children want to colour with me… And I’m like, “No! This is MINE! You always use all MY stuff, and then I can never find my pens. Don’t touch mommy’s stuff!” – I get a bit feral about my colouring in book ;-)
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Hahahahaaaa, I can just, um, picture it! LOL. Well, Lola, keep feral and hide those pens on the top shelf :)
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I talked to my therapist about this very subject a couple of weeks ago. Right around the time the news outlets were starting to talk about the benefits of coloring for adults. And the thing was, I was kinda angry about it. I’ve been hospitalized for my mental stuff twice, and both times, coloring figured into the equation of silencing the racing thoughts. Then all of a sudden, it’s mainstream. And part of me wanted the credit for the mental health community. We’d been doing it for years! We already knew it’s benefits!
The kicker of this was that my therapist said I wasn’t the first person to say something along those lines. The news outlets have made it sound like this is some new brilliant thing someone figured out, when in fact, us crazy people have been doing it for years.
Color on!
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I agree! When I came up with the concept, there was not a peep about colouring – except when I started posting. I’m also upset because it DOES belong to us. But as it’s popularity wears off, us crazy’s will still be bent over our colouring books, reaping the benefits. Yes! Colour on Crazeeee’s!
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Very true very true!
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I love coloring, it helps me cope with my severe akathisia. I’m no good at it. But hey as long as it makes me feel better. I’ll just not show any of my coloring projects
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I’m not too proud to admit I had to google ‘akathisia’. And good for you, who cares what the final product looks like, as long you enjoyed the activity and benefit from it – it’s not the destination its the journey kinda thing ;) Keep colouring!
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You’re right, thank you for the encouragement
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Reblogged this on Pieces of Bipolar and commented:
Here’s a little something I posted on the South African site, Our Lived Experience. If you’re an avid colourist, you may enjoy it. And check out http://www.ourlivedexperience.wordpress.com, it’s guaranteed to be interesting!
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I bought some colouring books a while back, but they’re just gathering dust… My restless nature gets the better of me and I quickly moved onto the next form of colouring… PAINT! :)
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Whatever form of expression works for you is great
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