I recently taught myself to make wreaths. I was feeling anxious one day and got the idea that hurling myself into a world of deco mesh fabric and Halloween decor would make me feel better. And to my surprise … it did. Creating something simple with my hands forced me to put space between all those negative thoughts and emotions I was feeling and transform them into something beautiful. Now, I am no expert, and I certainly am not trying to say that crafting is a cure for all that ails you, but at a time when an invisible foe who strikes via the very air we breathe is making a lot of people (myself included) feel extremely anxious, it may be worth trying. Seriously, I found scientific evidence showing that doing crafts can make you feel happier! But first, let me back up and explain where I’m coming from.

I am a worrier! No, really, I am super anxious – as in, I have an anxiety disorder! To many, this may come as quite a shocker because they read my upbeat columns and see that I’m not afraid of public speaking or trying crazy, new things. I love talking with new people, and those who I meet often tell me how fun and easygoing I seem. But what they don’t know is that, for most of my life, I have silently worried about … pretty much everything. For a long time, I thought it was normal to feel the way I was feeling, too. But when I was 35 years old, I had a major panic attack as I was driving with my two small kids in the car. As I sat there pulled over on the side of the road, my head against the steering wheel trying to make the vertigo feeling go away while my little ones cried in their car seats in the backseat, I quickly realized that I needed help! I started seeing someone shortly after that experience and went on anti-anxiety medication, which I still take today.

Coming to terms with my own anxiety was a process, and I share my experience with the hope that it makes others feel a little less alone. It amazes me how even with all the positive attention that mental health issues have gotten, we still tend to back away from such conversations. But recently, I have had several friends tell me how much the current state of the world is weighing on their own mental health. While most folks, I presume, are handling things well as the threat and effects of COVID-19 continue to drag on for who knows how long, many (myself included) are becoming even more anxious. I read an article written by a trauma counselor who compared the current level of fear and our heightened state of arousal as what many military veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder go through. If you or a loved one is feeling this way, please consult with a healthcare provider. But after you see your physician, you also might want to try getting crafty, too!

A study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry found that people with high levels of anxiety and depression are often lacking in dopamine – a chemical in the brain that is associated with feelings of enjoyment and positivity. The same study concluded that crafting is a non-medicinal way to stimulate dopamine. In other words, for me, making wreaths literally and physically makes me feel happy. Being totally focused on my wreaths relaxes me and puts me almost into a meditation state, which we all know is another highly effective anxiety-management tool.

I recently made and gave a wreath to my husband’s co-worker and his wife, who are expecting their first child. I designed it in the colors of their nursery and even included a hedgehog, which they have affectionately nicknamed the baby and are also including in their decor. They were so excited to receive it but maybe not as much as I was to have gifted it. Something I made to make myself feel happier was now making other people happy! It made me want to make more. So, I did. I made so many that my husband told me I either needed to open an Etsy store, or we needed to move to a bigger house with more doors. I opened the shop! I haven’t sold any yet, but just having the shop is a reminder that in the midst of our struggles, we can always create hope.

If you are feeling as if you are in crisis, please get help. You can contact the Disaster Distress Helpline (1-800-985-5990), or text TalkWithUs to 66746 to connect with a trained crisis counselor. If you’re feeling suicidal, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255).