General Creative Outlets

[LizardViolet]

It's been a while since I've been around. I suppose it's like that for everyone sometimes: you take a break, you come back and check in.

I'm a pretty active volunteer and my boyfriend said something a while ago about how he expects me to start a nonprofit organization about PTSD someday, perhaps when he is dead and gone. What he doesn't know is that I have already been channeling my energy and knowledge (and frustration). Not into volunteering, though; into creative stuff.

I've been working on a TV pilot for almost a year now, with a writing partner. There's nothing exciting to report about it, but it continues to be fun to work on and I'll certainly say something here if it goes anywhere.

I'm also writing PTSD: The Musical. That's coming right along. Again, nothing exciting to report, I'm writing and once I have a complete draft of the script and songs I'll find myself a musical partner, someone who's better at writing music and scoring. I've got a plan of attack for that, too. I'll keep you all posted. If you saw The PTSD Quiz that I posted a while back, that's in there.

Creative stuff can be a good stress release and a wonderful distraction. Anyone else engaged in creative pursuits?

 

[Leah123]

Welcome back! Writing's turned into quite an outlet for me as well lately, though I'm tackling nothing as ambitious as you. I have joined a writing group recently though, sketched out a few short pieces, working on an autobiography (mostly for therapy, lol) and just began coursework for a journalism B.A. en route to a full time career as a writer. I'd done freelance and student journalism prior.

Congratulations on your creative endeavors, they sound fascinating!

 

[franciemarnie]

Creative outlets are so healing! I love your PTSD The Musical!!

I am finishing a novel that is pure realism with a streak of fantasy mysticism and mystery. I was three quarters thru before I realized the fairy tale story portion was the story of my PTSD! I had no idea of that when I wrote it. No intention of including the slightest hint of my experience whatsoever. It was going to be just a fun lighthearted piece.

I learn so much when I write. My soul takes over. I love it!

 

[CourageofSnow]

I find knitting forces me to concentrate on the now, I have fewer flashbacks when I knit.

 

[ashdawn8287]

I write as well. I've been writing since I can remember. Mainly lyrics and poetry. I keep a journal as well but the journal is not so much a creative endeavour, it's sloppy and random it's my free space.

 

[just me here]

Photography and guitar and fishing here. Fishing? yes, fishing. Not an artform but it requires creativity and is impossible to truly master, much like photography and musicianship.

Anything that gives you a fully engrossing challenge that involves some physical activity as well is good medicine.

 

[Sun And Storm]

Ironically (or not?), I am going to school to be an art therapist for that exact reason! Creative outlets are so incredibly theraputic, ESPECIALLY with PTSD when communication can be VERY difficult. Sometimes, an angry painting session is just so cathartic for me - even if the art itself is terrible, I always walk away from it feeling a little better.

 

[rightkindofme]

I paint murals. I have several in my house. I am going to paint one on a neighbors fence next week. I write a lot. I have written one book (autobiography, of course) and have several more sketched out in my head. I'm waiting until it feels like the right time to start. Life is full of a lot of responsibilities and it is hard to carve out time.

I love to garden. I started gardening when I moved into my husband's house. We went from having bare dirt to having dozens of food plants (my corn is taller than me!) and lots of flowers. It makes me happy.

 

[LizardViolet]

I've got a garden, too. It's a much more cooperative process than writing: the plants grow, or not, and it's ultimately up to them! I'm in Southern California and my garden is mostly native plants. I love it when I see butterflies and hummingbirds out there. I picked the plants to appeal to them as well as me.

 

[just me here]

Gardening is pretty close to an ideal activity for my wife and I. She likes flower beds and has planted to attract birds and to maintain a constant bloom throughout the summer, bulbs first progressing to irises, roses, honeysuckle, on and on till fall. I like to maintain our yard and grow vegetables but we are surrounded by farms and fruitstands so I only grow the foods that are much better fresh like sweet peas and beans and corn.

Do you know the best time to pick corn? When the water is boiling of course!