Using expressive arts to help Teenagers heal from perfectionism

Teenagers are taking a deeper look at themselves as way of better connecting with their intuition and wise self. Schools and therapists are starting to introduce mindfulness and expressive arts as a way to help teenagers heal from the isolation and trauma related to the pandemic. The pandemic created a space of time where teenagers were left alone in their own thoughts which in some cases created a difficult type of self talk. Self talk that lacks self compassion makes it difficult for teenagers to tap into their own self knowing.

The perfectionist persona is often adopted by teenagers who are experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety, it’s this ordered way of thinking that is developed as a way to direct hurting stories. Stories help us craft our identity and helps shape our inner voice. Spending time talking and having fun allows teenagers to find new ways to bring hurting stories to a helpful conclusion or let go of the rigidity of an outcome.

Children and teenagers are often put in a place at school or home where they don’t feel they have control or free will to direct a new pathway for themselves. Often teenagers will express how anxious and depressed they feel and begin to develop a rigid thought system which makes it difficult to tap into creativity. It’s the academic tests in school, social isolation and outcome driven culture which we live that makes it difficult for teenagers to align with their intuition and present moment.

Expressive arts allows teenagers to communicate from a place of self knowing and untangle perfectionism from their story telling and self talk. We spend about 50 percent of our time in the present moment and the other half in a space of self inquiry and talk that takes us to the past or the future. Using art helps us come back to the present moment and influence our sensory experiences. It’s in the present moment where teenagers can create a new way to respond to hurt or uncertainty.

The perfectionist persona and mindset is often celebrated as children are praised for getting things perfect or shamed when struggling with new learning. It’s hard to untangle the perfectionist from our thoughts when we are trying to direct an outcome or when our nervous system is bringing us to a difficult energetic overwhelmed space. Art helps balance the energy, bringing the body and mind back to peace, allowing us to observe a difficult situation with a wider perspective. Drawing a picture of what your most authentic self looks like and acts like, is one way to develop self awareness with art. Visualization is another tool, asking yourself what your wiser/older self would tell you about how to handle a difficult situation. This is an amazing distancing tool for teenagers to help them move out of the rigid thinking of the problem focused perfectionist.

We are often focused on the left brain of responding to our world. This is the part of our brain which focuses on words and is not aware of how the body is interpreting a new emotional experience. Creating routines and habits that use art, movement, visualization, or positive intention uses the right hemisphere of the brain allowing for a whole brain and holistic approach for problem solving. Taking breaks and space from problems when the perfectionist has taken hold of our stories, helps us break the rigid thought process of worry and fawn response. Spending several months distancing from difficult perfectionist self talk with art, movement and positive intention allows teenagers to regain their intuitive self as the main story teller.