I've used coloring and art to soothe my anxiety and depression. I've had a lot of friends do it too. It's a great stress reliever. We had coloring parties and had a great time. It's a really good icebreaker for shyer people too.

Yes-love it! Actually my friends and family all joke that I am the one that started the adult coloring trend, because I used to color every chance I got, even in kids coloring books, with my younger cousins and nieces and nephews. I always found it fun and relaxing.

My biggest complaint about adult coloring books, is sometimes the spaces are so small it stresses me out when I end up outside the lines--ha ha. Sometimes I would still prefer kids coloring books, because they're so much easier--guess I'm still just a little kid at heart.

Glad to hear you've found something that works for you. Enjoy.

I've heard from many people that this is a very effective way to relieve stress. I think I will try it myself.

I love it. My 6 year old even has me make copies of the pages for him before I color them so that he can color the same picture as me. I am working on an owl picture right now in different shades of purple. Its taking me a while to do it because I have been busy with all my kids doctor appts and cleaning house and homeschooling my oldest, but I still try to color it a little everyday.

I agree some of the pictures can have such small detail that it makes it hard to color them at times. I use different things to color my pictures with. I have fine and ultra fine sharpies, so many different colored pencils, glitter gel pens, neon gel, metallic gel pens felt tip pens. and even use highlighters at times. I look through my books and see what callsout to me and then think what to use when I color it. I have over 80 books right now and this weekend I wil be buying about 6 more. I am looking into one of the harry potter books right now.

I have even started buying double of my pens when I buy new ones that way I have a back up when I run out of a color in the middle of a picture. The dollar stores are my favorite places to look for new gel pens.

Tonight my local library is doing a coloring event tonight and I get to color talk to people that color too and get some free pictures. Plus I get out of the house for a few when I go to them. I just take my own coloring stuff bc they never have enough to go around and I just don't let anyone use my pencils other than my mom when she goes too.

My Mom does it, and it helps her anxiety! I remember enjoying doing it as a kid, and might do it again myself. I'm already into photography and that helps me. I guess that's the secret, to do something, anything, that is visually artistic, that demands concentrated attention to detail within a frame. It's something that we can control.

And color, whether drawn or captured in a photograph, is beautiful of course, brings us pleasure to look at!

I love photography too. I want to have my own studio one day in the future.

that sounds amazing, Ive never heard of that, nor seen an adult coloring book, where can I find one?

There are several places to look. I will be glad to tell you which stores to look at for books.
Walmart
Books a million
Dollar general
Target
Dollar tree
Grocery stores
Cvs/Walgreens
Amazon. Com
Michaels
Hobby lobby
Joann fabric stores

there's a coloring group on Facebook that you can post the pictures you color as long as u put which book your picture is from to give proper credit and there are some artists in the group that gives free pages to print and color.

I look at every store for new books and new pens or pencils to use on my pictures. I have over 80 books and a notebook full of print offs. I have lost count how many pens and pencils I have. Alot of people order from amazon to get books and coloring supplies.

Along the same theme, if you have an iPhone you can download 2 free apps Pigment and Zen Studio which are coloring apps right on your phone designed for relaxation.

I highly recommend coloring! My best friend who just passed away started coloring while he was in the hospital and continued when he got home all the way up until he passed away. It helps anxiety, depression, hands that need to be busy all the time, OCD, etc.....
Great post, thank you.
Hugs

I was really into it at one stage, should really pick up a book soon.

I just got 5 more books yesterday and a new poster.

I love my adult coloring books. I try to do anything to keep my hands and head busy so I don't have time to think about it. I also learned how to crochet to keep myself busy too. I think people who deal with anxiety are very creative and artistic people. :)

I agree. It keeps me busy so I don't think bout my anxiety and depression as much. It can be hard but love finding things to keep from thinking bout it as much