Healing in Stitches: How Art Therapy Helped Me Reconnect with My Strength

In moments when words felt too heavy or my thoughts too scattered, I found myself turning to my hands - stitching, cutting, coloring, arranging. What began as a small experiment became a form of art therapy that helped ground me through uncertainty, stress, and self-doubt.

I started making tiny sewn pouches, soft, simple, and made with intention. Inside each one, I placed a handwritten affirmation: “You are capable.” “There’s nothing to it but to do it.” These became quiet reminders I could return to, like anchors when the waters felt rough.

Later, I added digital affirmation cards to the mix. Inspired by my own patterns and moods, I created square visual mantras - some bright and playful, others gentle and soothing. Each one became a snapshot of resilience, small enough to carry but powerful enough to shift my mindset.

Here is one of my creations:

Two Different patterns for each side.

AI generated images of my sewing project

This process didn’t erase my struggles, but it gave me something steady - a ritual of making, a reminder of my own voice, and a chance to see beauty take shape from chaos. Whether you're an artist or not, I hope this encourages you to explore small creative rituals that bring you peace.