8 Reasons To Try Knitting Therapy

Have you heard of knitting therapy? It is about time that you dived into the fantastic world of knitting and the emotional impact it can have on your life and wellbeing. If you still are not sure, give knitting a try next time you have negative feelings and emotions. In this article, you will learn all the reasons that knitting therapy is beneficial.

Here are the 8 reasons to try knitting therapy

Reason #1: Knitting can help stop negative thoughts

Because knitting takes attention and focus, it can be an effective way at stopping your mind from dwelling on negatives. When you feel stressed out or anxious, stopping your mind from jumping to negative conclusions is very difficult.

By focusing on knitting instead, you are giving your mind the break it needs. Knitting can distract you for the necessary time that it takes to erase negative thoughts.

Reason #2: Knitting can help you stay still while also channeling your energy 

For those that are hyperactive, staying still can be very difficult. Knitting is one of the channels that you can use to remain calm while also moving your hands. This hobby helps people that need to focus their energy on something healthy, which can lower the risk for injury, self-harm, and other negative outcomes.

Reason #3: Knitting makes time pass quickly 

With a pandemic and having to be inside for long periods, also come boredom and feelings of loneliness. So, what better way to combat these feelings than using a healthy outlet?

Knitting can be what you need to pass the time, and it is surprisingly easy to forget about the rest of the world, making it seem like time is passing more quickly.

Staying occupied is a great alternative to sitting alone thinking about what is wrong in your life, which is why it is good to start knitting during times of boredom or loneliness.

Reason #4: Knitting can mimic relaxation and meditation techniques 

Many people consider meditation to be an efficient way to prevent anxiety, depression, anger, and frustration. However, not everyone can take the time to meditate or find the tools to it by themselves.

In these cases, knitting can act as a relaxation technique and has the same results that meditation would. If you find it difficult to sit still for enough time to meditate, give knitting a try instead, and you will see the same benefits.

Reason #5: Knitting is proven to help release serotonin 

Serotonin is thought to be the hormone of happiness, but some people have lower levels at different times. This hormone is in charge of regulating mood, feelings, and overall wellbeing.

Repetitive movements, such as running, dancing, or laughing are ways to promote the release of serotonin in your brain. Activities like this, though, are not always achievable, especially in wintertime or when leaving the house is not an option.

To release serotonin another way, you can engage in a knitting project. Research shows that moving your hands in repetitive ways can promote the release of serotonin. After just a few minutes, your outlook may begin to change thanks to this hormone.  

Reason #6: Knitting promotes eye movement 

Moving your eyes from side to side may not seem like anything special. However, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a technique used by therapists and psychiatrists in treating trauma patients. If you have practiced yoga before, you may be familiar with the concept of moving your eyes around or rolling them.

When you are knitting, you are essentially doing the same thing and moving the eyes in such a way that it can help you deal with emotional distress and accept your past trauma. Some may even bring their knitting tools and projects to therapy to engage in this technique.

Reason #7: Knitting can help reduce addiction relapse and tendencies 

Not everyone has an addictive personality, but for those that do, staying on track of recovering, preventing relapse, or managing addictive tendencies can be extremely difficult.

Knitting is a good outlet for addicts and obsessive personalities, as it can replace negative habits. You can knit everywhere you go, all without having to prepare much, so it can be a great tool to use when you know that you are having thoughts that may lead to obsessive behavior or addiction relapse.

Reason #8: Knitting is also a pain reliever 

While it is not a cure for acute or chronic pain, knitting can be a distraction when it comes to pain. Those that are disabled or suffer from chronic illness often find themselves dealing with pain multiple times a day.

Sometimes medications may not be enough, and this results in feelings of anxiety, aimlessness, and loneliness. In these cases, knitting can trick your brain into forgetting about the pain, at least for a while, which is effective in preventing depression.

If you know how to knit, you know how to stay calm and relaxed 

When you knit, you engage in an activity of relaxation and stillness. This could translate into the real world when you are faced with stressful situations. Do not wait any longer and give knitting therapy a try!

If you enjoyed reading this article then you should check out the 5 Reasons Why Knitting is Happiness