The Medicine We Make
There are days when emotions feel too overwhelming to name, or when the pressure of school, family, identity, and everything in between starts to weigh on the heart. For many teens, it’s hard to find the words, or the space, to explain what’s going on inside. But art gives them that space. It’s not always loud or dramatic. Sometimes, it’s just a quiet way to say, “This is how I feel,” without ever having to explain why. The beautiful thing is, this isn’t new. Humans have turned to art since the beginning of time, far before therapy, textbooks, or social media. Whether it’s being painted on ancient cave walls or played through someone’s headphones, art has been a universal survival tool, helping people to understand and adapt to the world around them.
This isn’t just a feeling. It’s backed by science. The American Psychological Association notes that creative expression, whether through drawing, dancing, or writing, can ease anxiety, improve resilience, and help process difficult emotions. It doesn’t matter how skilled someone is, because the healing is in the act of creating (American Psychological Association).
Theater, for example, can be life-changing. It’s not just about putting on a costume and becoming someone else. In stepping into another person’s life, actors often end up discovering parts of their own. Studies from the Educational Theatre Association display that students involved in drama programs tend to build more empathy, confidence, and self-awareness than others. When teens tell stories on stage, especially ones that may “hit home” in a reflection to their own realities, it reminds them that their voices matter, and that they are not alone.
Music also has a powerful way of holding one’s emotions when they feel too big to carry. Whether it’s composing, playing, or just listening, music taps into something deep. Research from USC’s Brain and Creativity Institute shows that children who study music have stronger emotional development and concentration. Organizations such as Girls Rock Campe create spaces where teens, especially girls and gender-diverse youth, can find confidence and community through songwriting and performance.
Visual art is equally powerful. For example, after the tragic 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, students used murals and sculptures to grieve, protest, and heal. Art helped them turn their pain into purpose. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, simply engaging in art-making, regardless of skill level, can lower stress and help regulate emotions. In moments when words feel impossible, a brush or pencil can still speak.
Furthermore, even writing, whether journaling, storytelling, or poetry, can act as therapy. A study published by Cambridge University Press found that expressive writing can improve mental clarity and emotional health. Writing allows teens to make sense of what’s happening in their lives, whether they ever decide to share it or not.
Art doesn’t have to be perfect to matter. It doesn’t have to win awards or go viral. What it does have to be is honest and authentic. That’s enough. In a world that often expects teens to just push through, keep up, and stay strong, art reminds them that it’s okay to feel, to reflect, and to rest. Creativity can be resistance, healing, and hope all at once. It provides a unique reminder that even when life feels loud and out of control, there’s still a place where every soul can speak and be heard.
American Psychological Association. Probing the Power and Importance of Art. 2019, https://www.apa.org/monitor/2019/05/probing-art.
Cambridge University Press. Emotional and Physical Health Benefits of Expressive Writing. 2006, https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/advances-in-psychiatric-treatment/article/emotional-and-physical-health-benefits-of-expressive-writing/ED2976A61F5DE56B46F07A1CE9EA9F9F.
Educational Theatre Association. Drama in Education: The Impact of Theatre on Student Success. 2012, https://schooltheatre.org/drama-in-education-the-impact-of-theatre-on-student-success/.
Johns Hopkins Medicine. Art, Dance, and Music. 2016, https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/art-dance-and-music.
University of Southern California, Brain and Creativity Institute. Children’s Brains Develop Faster with Music Training. 2016, https://today.usc.edu/childrens-brains-develop-faster-with-music-training/.
