Mental Health Drawing Ideas to Express Your Emotions

Expressing our feelings isn’t always easy. Whether we’re feeling sad, angry, or happy, finding the right words can be tough. But there are different mental health drawing ideas that can help us show how we feel—through art! Drawing is a powerful tool that creates a safe space for emotional expression, making it a fun and helpful way for the whole family to explore their emotions. Art activities like this are fantastic for mental health, providing a creative outlet to release emotions even if you only have a little time.

1. Draw Your Feelings as Weather

Think about how you’re feeling right now. If your emotions were a kind of weather, what would they be? Maybe you’re feeling anxious like a thunderstorm, or perhaps you’re calm like a sunny day. Drawing your emotions as different weather patterns can help you create a visual representation of your inner world. This is an effective way to understand and process complex emotions.

2. Color Your Mood

Grab some crayons, markers, or colored pencils. Think about the different colors that match how you feel. For example, red might show anger, blue could represent sadness, and yellow might mean happiness. Filling a page with colors that represent your current mood can be a relaxing way to express your feelings without using any words. This simple art idea can help in coping with your negative thoughts and negative feelings.

3. Create a Feelings Monster

Monsters can be big, scary, and full of feelings—just like us sometimes! Imagine your emotions as a monster and draw it. Is your monster angry with sharp teeth and claws? Or is it sad with big, teary eyes? By creating a feelings monster, you can give your emotions a shape and form, making them easier to manage. This activity is a creative outlet that can be particularly helpful during tough times.

4. Make an Emotion Wheel

An emotion wheel is a circle divided into sections, and each section represents a different feeling. Start by drawing a large circle and divide it into slices, like a pizza. In each slice, draw a face that shows a different emotion, such as happiness, anger, sadness, or excitement. This wheel can help you understand your feelings better, making it a helpful way to explore your emotional state.

5. Cartoon Drawings for Social Situations

If you find social situations challenging, consider drawing cartoons that depict these scenarios. You can create characters that represent yourself and others, and use the drawings to rehearse and understand social interactions. My son often does this when he feels angry or upset at someone in the family or a friend. He creates comics where he often makes us the villains and works through the situation, helping him process his emotions in a creative way. This can be a good way to develop social skills and improve your confidence in dealing with different people.

6. Doodle Your Worries Away

Sometimes, we have worries that just won’t go away. When that happens, try doodling! Draw whatever comes to mind, whether it’s patterns, shapes, or random pictures. Doodling can help distract your mind from worries and give you a break from stress. This art activity can be a creative process that helps in managing anxious thoughts. If you’re looking for a place to release all your thoughts, the Focus and Flourish journal has a brain dump page that’s perfect for letting go of mental clutter.

7. Explore Abstract Art

Abstract art allows for complete freedom in expression. It’s all about creating without worrying about the final outcome. Use different colors, shapes, and lines to express hard emotions that are hard to put into words. This kind of artistic expression can be a powerful tool to help with psychological distress and find new ways to manage your mental state. 

8. Draw a Safe Place or a Happy Memory

When you’re feeling stressed or anxious, it can help to think of a place where you feel safe and happy. Draw that place! It could be a cozy room, a peaceful beach, or a magical forest. By drawing your safe place, you can create a mental escape whenever you need to calm down and feel better. This is a powerful way to connect with your inner world and establish a sense of security. 

Similarly, reflecting on moments of joy can also bring comfort. Think about a time when you felt really happy. Maybe it was a birthday, a fun day at the park, or a holiday with your family. Draw that memory! Focusing on happy memories can lift your mood and remind you of the good times. This can be particularly useful for those dealing with mental health issues like low self-esteem or depression.

9. Create Art Therapy Collages

You can make collages by putting together stock photos, magazine pictures, drawings, and other materials to show your feelings or experiences. This fantastic art therapy exercise can help you work through negative emotions and think about how you’re feeling right now. It’s a creative idea that helps you express yourself in a fun and simple way.

Drawing is a wonderful way to express your emotions and take care of your mental health. You don’t need to be a professional artist—just pick up a pencil, crayon, or marker, and let your feelings flow onto the paper. You can try any of these mental health drawing ideas in The Process journal. It has a mood tracker and a space to help you release your emotions through writing or drawing! The most important thing is to have fun and let drawing help you feel better. So next time you or your child is feeling a little overwhelmed, try one of these art therapy ideas and see how it can help! For more resources on the benefits of art therapy, visit arttherapy.org.