Feeling overwhelmed? A bit adrift in the sea of modern life? You’re not alone. 

Young adults today face numerous challenges, both big and small, including academic pressure, social media burnout, and global uncertainty. All of this combined can feel like a constant, low-grade hum of stress. But what if one of the most powerful tools for managing this stress was already in your hands? 

Sounds crazy, right? We’re talking about creative output, and it’s not just a fun hobby; it’s a vital, trauma-informed way to metabolise stress before it becomes something bigger and scarier. 

Let’s get technical. When stress hits, our brains go into fight-or-flight mode. Our limbic system, or the emotional core, lights up, while the prefrontal cortex, responsible for executive function and rational thought, can go offline. This is why it’s hard to think straight when you’re anxious. When navigating a complex world, it manifests as a feeling of stuckness, overwhelm or even disconnectedness from oneself.

And guess what? Every time you pick up a paintbrush, a pen, or a guitar, something incredible happens. With something creative, you engage the parasympathetic nervous system, the body’s “rest and digest” mode. As you continue to focus on the texture of paint, the rhythm of a beat, or the flow of words, your brain releases dopamine or, as you must know it, the “feel-good” hormone. This isn’t just a temporary distraction; it’s a literal re-wiring. You’re creating new neural pathways that teach your brain to find calm and focus, even in chaotic moments.

It is also essential to focus on a “trauma-informed” approach here. It means understanding that many of the mental health challenges young people face, such as anxiety, depression, and even burnout, can all stem from past or present stressful experiences. Trauma, at its core, is an overload of the nervous system. You feel powerless.

Creative output is the opposite. It is an act of agency and control.

You are the creator. You choose the colours, the words, the notes. This simple act of making something can be deeply empowering. It allows you to externalise internal chaos. A swirling mess of emotions can become a furious doodle, a sad song, or a poignant poem. It’s a way to process complicated feelings without having to articulate them verbally, which can be especially helpful for those who find traditional therapy challenging.

Think of your creative work as a container. You can put your anger, sadness, and frustration into it. Once it’s on the canvas, on the page, or in the song, it’s outside of you. It’s no longer a part of your being, but a thing to be observed. This is a powerful step toward healing and self-understanding.

So start small but think big. You don’t have to be a professional artist to reap these benefits. The goal isn’t to create a masterpiece for a museum; it’s to make something for yourself. The “art” can be anything:

• Doodling during a boring Zoom meeting.
• Journaling your thoughts, free-form, with no rules.
• Learning a new song on an instrument.
• Take photos of interesting things on your daily walk.
• Cooking a new recipe and getting lost in the process.

But the key is to do it without judgment, and what that means is that we need to let go of perfectionism. The actual value lies in the process and not the product. It’s about building a habit of turning towards creativity as your first line of defence against stress. Creativity helps regulate your nervous system, reclaim your sense of self, and remind yourself that even when the world feels messy, you can create something beautiful, or at least something meaningful, out of it.

So, the next time you feel that familiar hum of overwhelm, try picking up a pen, a brush, or even just your phone camera. You might be surprised at what you discover about yourself and your ability to heal.

And if things are too tough to handle alone, book a consultation session today here because we are here to support and walk with you.