Navigating the Storm - A Creative Artist's Guide to Managing Stress and Anxiety

“It’s scary in the dark, but what’s more scary to me is denying and suppressing what lurks beneath the surface.”

“Tiger, Shark and Me Sit Down for Tea” by Emma Haddow

The artist Emma Haddow (who gave us this quote) will have her own thoughts about this, but what is it that lurks beneath the dark for you? Maybe you feel overwhelmed by deadlines, expectations, or criticism. Maybe you struggle with self-doubt, perfectionism, or imposter syndrome. Maybe you worry about your finances, your future, or your artistic vision. Whatever the cause, stress affects our mental and physical health, as well as our creativity and productivity.

What’s really important to keep in mind is that feeling anxious is a normal response to situations we consider challenging or threatening. It’s part of our survival mechanism, and it helps us cope (the good old fight-or-flight response). Only when stress and anxiety become chronic, they begin to interfere with our well-being and performance.