| The Crafty Angle |
| (And It's Not Just For Kids :-) |
Knitting As a Self-Help Tool
Non-knitters often consider knitting monotonous and boring.
It’s true that knitting is not a fast-paced hobby like skydiving,
but it does have lots of benefits. In fact, many experts are
convinced that it has therapeutic properties.
Anyone who knits will tell you that knitting is a wonderful
remedy for stress. At the end of a tough day, picking up a
project can quickly calm one down. It’s those very repetitive
movements that those who do not knit consider boring that
produce a soothing effect comparable to that of meditation.
In fact, knitting has a lot in common with meditation. In both
activities, you focus on one particular thing. When meditating,
that thing is your subconscious. When knitting, it’s your
stitching. In either case, you’re forced to push your worries,
stress, anger and sadness to the side.
The focus required by knitting can help with a number of
health issues other than stress. These include:
* ADD/ADHD – Knitting is great for improving concentration. The act of knitting forces the two sides of the brain to
work together, and that’s something that those with ADD and ADHD can have a lot of trouble with. By knitting
regularly, they can improve their brains’ ability to focus and hang on to information that is learned.
* Chronic pain – Chronic pain can greatly decrease one’s quality of life. But instead of using dangerous (and often
addictive) painkillers as the sole treatment, many pain doctors are encouraging patients to include less conventional
therapies in their treatment. Knitting is one activity that can help. The calm state of mind it produces, and the
attention it requires, blocks pain signals from reaching the brain.
* Brain damage – After a brain injury, doctors seek to restore as much of the brain’s prior function as possible.
Complete recovery is not always possible, but certain activities can help patients relearn fine motor skills and
cognitive skills. Knitting is one of many possible treatment options. It tends to work well because it incorporates both
types of skills into one activity.
* Anxiety – Anxiety may be mild, moderate or severe. At any level, knitting can be beneficial. While it probably won’t
stop a full-fledged panic attack, knitting can reduce overall stress and divert attention from specific stressors.
* Chronic illness – When one is facing a long-term or terminal illness, depression can set in. Those who are
bedridden are limited in what they can do, and this can give them too much time to think negative thoughts. Knitting
is something they can do that is not physically demanding, yet it takes their minds off of their illness. And the
finished project also gives them a sense of accomplishment.
Knitting as therapy may not be the latest medical break -
through, but it can be helpful in many cases. It’s a relatively
easy hobby, and it’s very inexpensive. And it engages the
mind in a relaxing way that few other pursuits can.
Non-knitters often consider knitting monotonous and boring.
It’s true that knitting is not a fast-paced hobby like skydiving,
but it does have lots of benefits. In fact, many experts are
convinced that it has therapeutic properties.
Anyone who knits will tell you that knitting is a wonderful
remedy for stress. At the end of a tough day, picking up a
project can quickly calm one down. It’s those very repetitive
movements that those who do not knit consider boring that
produce a soothing effect comparable to that of meditation.
In fact, knitting has a lot in common with meditation. In both
activities, you focus on one particular thing. When meditating,
that thing is your subconscious. When knitting, it’s your
stitching. In either case, you’re forced to push your worries,
stress, anger and sadness to the side.
The focus required by knitting can help with a number of
health issues other than stress. These include:
* ADD/ADHD – Knitting is great for improving concentration. The act of knitting forces the two sides of the brain to
work together, and that’s something that those with ADD and ADHD can have a lot of trouble with. By knitting
regularly, they can improve their brains’ ability to focus and hang on to information that is learned.
* Chronic pain – Chronic pain can greatly decrease one’s quality of life. But instead of using dangerous (and often
addictive) painkillers as the sole treatment, many pain doctors are encouraging patients to include less conventional
therapies in their treatment. Knitting is one activity that can help. The calm state of mind it produces, and the
attention it requires, blocks pain signals from reaching the brain.
* Brain damage – After a brain injury, doctors seek to restore as much of the brain’s prior function as possible.
Complete recovery is not always possible, but certain activities can help patients relearn fine motor skills and
cognitive skills. Knitting is one of many possible treatment options. It tends to work well because it incorporates both
types of skills into one activity.
* Anxiety – Anxiety may be mild, moderate or severe. At any level, knitting can be beneficial. While it probably won’t
stop a full-fledged panic attack, knitting can reduce overall stress and divert attention from specific stressors.
* Chronic illness – When one is facing a long-term or terminal illness, depression can set in. Those who are
bedridden are limited in what they can do, and this can give them too much time to think negative thoughts. Knitting
is something they can do that is not physically demanding, yet it takes their minds off of their illness. And the
finished project also gives them a sense of accomplishment.
Knitting as therapy may not be the latest medical break -
through, but it can be helpful in many cases. It’s a relatively
easy hobby, and it’s very inexpensive. And it engages the
mind in a relaxing way that few other pursuits can.
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