I’m a long time crocheter of 23 years, but I have only recently found out about crochet therapy. I love crocheting because it gives me a sense of accomplishment and pride in my ever increasing skill. It also relaxes me, but more recently I’ve found that it also helps me to focus and kick my anxiety.

I don’t have chronic anxiety by any means. But when it became clear that I was having anxiety attacks from excessive stress and worry, I also realized that crocheting was the answer!

Crocheting to the Rescue!

If you’re reading this then you know I’m a crochet blogger, I make patterns and tutorials for you, my lovely Stitchcrafters. But, lately I’ve been giving into the anxiety. I have lots of things to do in the day…. However, I’m not even doing half of them.

Why? Because I’m wasting so much of my day to senseless worry. I know that it’s senseless, because quite a few of the things I’m worried about, aren’t even things I can’t fix!

The other day, I sat down, turned on one of my favorite YouTubers* and just started crocheting a yoyo puff. It doesn’t sound like much, but I felt so much better! I knew that crocheting had a lot of health benefits, but I hadn’t realized how simple this stress relief/anxiety beating technique was.

*said YouTuber is The Frugal Crafter Lindsey Weirich, she does tutorials in card making, watercolor, oil painting, acrylic painting, and over all crafts. (Not so much on needle or yarn crafts)

I’m not affiliated, nor do I know her personally, but she seems to be a lovely person.

Small projects big impact

Crafting in general is a wonderful way to beat anxiety. So, I’ve gathered up a few quick, (seriously, some of them take only a couple minutes) projects I have on my blog so that you can do them whenever you feel stressed.

If you don’t have a lot of time, these are great small projects to use for crochet therapy. They take a small amount of yarn to make, so you can take the supplies along in a purse, a yarn bag, or even a gallon sized baggy.

• 3 Easy Crocheted Flowers
• Easy Cute Crochet Heart
• How To Crochet The Yoyo Puff
• The Classic Granny Square Tutorial

What I love about these projects, is that you can make bunches of them and then make a larger project with them when you have more time!

Crocheting is known to better your health on many levels. (If you’re wondering what benefits specifically, then check out the 13 health benefits of crocheting.) However, people who get anxiety attacks, or who are naturally anxious, can benefit by having yarn and hook on hand with a quick project that they can do and store away at a moments notice.

How Does Crochet therapy work?

By doing a repetitive activity, it distracts the mind by focusing on the action of your hands, without really having to think about what you are doing. This alone can help release physical tension and reduce feelings of anxiety.

Another positive for those of us with anxiety, is that the repetition combined with the mental focus can put you into a flow state, or state of flow. Have you ever heard the expression, time flies when you’re having fun? Well, they were actually talking about the flow state, it’s a similar sentiment to being “in the zone”.

Have you ever had a time when you were completely immersed in an activity? When time itself seemed to move at a different pace? Quite possibly, with more time going by then you would have thought possible? That is a flow state.

While in this state, you will feel both, a focused energy for what you are doing and a feeling of enjoyment in the process.

Crocheting, or any kind of craft really, is a wonderful way to be mindful and present. Most of the time, anxiety is caused by going over a past situation. Or fear of some doom filled future. Having a creative, immersive activity, that keeps you focused on something in the present. Can reset your mind to a relaxed state and fill you with serotonin instead of dread.

A perfect pairing

Crocheting can easily be done while listening to music, podcasts, audio books, or TV. The focus you have while crocheting will actually help you remember what you’re listening to.

For more things to do while crocheting, check out my series of the same name.

Resources

For a bit more on crocheting and anxiety, check out the websites below.

The anxiety resource center

Crochet Therapy

I hope you found this article helpful! If it is, please show your support by liking this post and following my blog, so you’re alerted when ever I make a new one. You can also sign up for The Crocheting Owl Monthly Newsletter for free patterns, updates, yarny bonuses and more!