An autoethnography in exploring the output of anxiety through creative work

Abstract

This body of work looks into how mental health and creativity, co-relate through coping mechanisms. This work explores the anxious mind of the author that explores her mental health and the use of creative coping mechanisms in order to settle her negative thoughts. It involves the use of yarn-making skills that help understand various themes that the research looks into. This research is authoethnographical, therefore it focuses solely on the authors experience, whilst still understanding other perspectives. Mental health is experienced differently and one experience cannot suffice for everyone who suffered form mental illness. This project involved gathering personal data through self-experimentation, interviews, experimentation in practice and overall an understanding between the author and her challenges. Having to cope with mental illness alone, crochet has become one of the many ways in which the author found to help ease her inner turmoil. Taking negative thoughts and transferring it into positive energy directed in her work. Crochet is not considered as a hobby but rather a safety net, in which when times become difficult, it is there to help aid her anxiety.