Zentangles: Doodling Away Anxiety and Depression

Zentangle is being adopted as a form of art therapy to overcome stress and cultivate mindfulness meditation.

It has been five years since Bhamati Pai picked up a pen and a piece of white paper to doodle her way to glory. Since then, not even a day has passed without her creating Zentangles.

The 36-year-old was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour. It had been seven months since she had given birth to a baby boy. She was brave enough to fight for survival. Rather, she had to; at least for the sake of her newborn son.

After spending days in the hospital undergoing painful processes like chemotherapy and radiation, she managed to cling to life. However, it had a drastic effect on her physical and mental wellbeing.

I did bounce back despite the suffering. But life was never the same. Just when I felt I was slipping into depression, I came across the concept of Zentangles. Very soon, I got hooked to it and that changed things forever. I used to doodle for hours. It helped me live in the present moment and over a period of time I regained all the confidence that I had lost.

Remember all the aimless scribbling and sketching you’ve done in your school and college notebooks? It was an ideal way to break away from the mundane lectures. And it felt good because it’s therapeutic.

It is not surprising that a lot of people have turned to art, to fix emotional and mental distress.

A wide variety of methods and techniques have sprung up in the space of art to overcome anxiety and despair. Zentangle is one such form of art that has been bringing about a positive transformation in people’s lives.

The term comes from a Japanese word ‘Zen’ which means a state of meditation and ‘tangle’ refers to doodles. Discovered by a US couple Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas, Zentangle has now reached many Indian cities like Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad.

Therapeutic Value of Zentangle

The design and structure of a Zentangle might look complicated. However, in practice, it is an effortless, step-by-step process of depicting a pattern. It is a creative craft that leads people towards the path of relaxation and inner focus.

Dilip Patel, the first certified Zentangle teacher in the country, says that engaging in this form of doodle art can help people reach a meditative state of mind. “By filling up blank spaces using pen strokes, anybody can experience a sense of freedom, timelessness, and well-being. That in itself can arrest negative thoughts and help people snap out of stress, depression, and loneliness,” he said.

Art is an age-old method used for healing since greater creativity breeds greater happiness. Many therapists and counsellors are considering incorporating Zentangles as a remedial measure as part of their sessions.

I have myself experienced a sense of confidence and joy while drawing the patterns. I can’t wait to use it as part of my counselling sessions and workshops this summer. I am sure it will help unclutter the maze of thoughts in people’s minds, especially children.

Rekha Chakraborty, Counsellor

How Does It Help To Bail People Out?

Owing to its meditative qualities, creating Zentangles is gradually being adopted by many to drive away negative emotions and recoup from traumatic experiences. There are numerous instances where it has had a positive impact on people and turned their lives upside down.

Margaret Xavier, a content creator, recounts a similar experience. Margaret had an extremely taxing work schedule due to which she kept feeling restless and used to undergo pangs of anxiety. Today, she says she is mentally prepared to take on anything at work.

“I always carry a piece of paper and a black pen in my handbag. I pick it up and start drawing tangles whenever I feel frustrated. I get so involved in sketching those patterns that it automatically calms me down,” she said. Margaret started loving the art so much that she went on to become a Zentangle practitioner.

Art therapy is increasingly being adopted as an effective way to calm an anxious mind, increase self-confidence, and cultivate mindfulness meditation. A whole lot of people are attempting to tap into these benefits, especially when it comes to the method of Zentangles.

Art therapy is increasingly being adopted as an effective way to calm an anxious mind, increase self-confidence, and cultivate mindfulness meditation. A whole lot of people are attempting to tap into these benefits, especially when it comes to the method of Zentangles.

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