Reasons why you should start knitting

When we think of knitting, the image of two grandmothers comes to mind, but for a while ago there are more young people who are interested in this craft. And since the style boho It became fashionable many are those who prefer to make their own clothes. But and if in addition to making your own clothes we tell you what to do Crafts can help you treat the anxiety, depression or chronic pain. also can reduce stress, increase happiness and protect the brain from damage caused by aging.

Although few studies have been developed regarding the relationship of crafts with emotional well-being, neurologists have noted that certain cognitive activities, such as solving crosswords, or quilting, or tissues has beneficial effects on mental health.

Promising evidence is emerging to support the premise that weaving or performing any artistic activity benefits our mind in many ways. And it is that while weaving, what the psychologist Mihaly Csikszentimihalyi initially described as fluency: a few moments in time where an activity absorbs you so much that nothing else seems to matter to you.

"When we are involved in something that requires creativity, we feel that we are living more fully than during the rest of our lives," Csikszentimihalyi said at a TED conference. “You know that what you need to do is possible to achieve, even if it is something difficult, so the feeling of time disappears. You forget yourself. You feel part of something much greater. ”

Our nervous system You can only process a certain amount of information at a time, he explains. That is the reason why you cannot listen and understand two people while they speak to you at the same time. So when someone starts creating, their existence outside of that activity is "temporarily suspended."

The effects of fluency are similar to those of the meditationsays occupational therapist Victoria Schindler. Science has shown that meditation can, among other things, reduce stress and fight inflammation.

Our bodies are in a constant state of stress because our brain can't tell the difference between a meeting with the boss and a bear attack, says Schindler. The repetitive movements of to knit, for example, activate the nervous system parasympathetic, which dissipates that “fight or flight” response.

In the study "The neurological basis of occupation", written in 2007, Schindler and co-author Sharon Gutman state that patients could learn to use activities such as drawing or painting to cause fluency, which would offer a non-pharmaceutical way of regulating strong emotions such as anger, or prevent irrational thoughts.

The reward center in your brain releases a neurotransmitter called dopamine When you do something nice. Scientists believe that dopamine was originally designed to make us repeat activities that would help the survival of the species, such as eating and having sex. Over time, we have evolved in such a way that the brain also releases dopamine while painting glass or decorating a cake.

There is evidence from a survey that supports the effect of dopamine when making crafts. In a study conducted with more than 3,500 weavers, published in The British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 81% of respondents responded that they felt happier after knitting. More than half reported that they felt "very happy."

Psychologists believe that a strong sense of self-efficacy is key to the way we approach a new challenge and overcome disappointments in life. So, realizing that, you can actually crochet a sweater, it could help you relax and learn to concentrate.

Creative activities can protect you from aging

More than 35 million people around the world live with dementia today. By 2050, that number is expected to triple, and experts are rushing to find ways to protect the brain from this debilitating condition.

Neurologists used to believe that the brain was a static organ, says Levisay, and that once it was fully developed in your twenties, all you could do was lose power. But recently, research has shown that our brains are flexible and can adapt to their environment, even when the person is elderly; This is a concept known as neuroplasticity.

Some of the benefits of knitting are:

Levels / lowers blood pressure

Reduce depression and anxiety

Eliminate chronic pain

Reduce the feeling of loneliness