Adult Colouring

Tell me how wrote: »

Also, correct me for being dubious, but comparing something to 'drinking your own piss' doesn't sound like academic terminology.

It appears the user was using piss drinking to import the phrase "benefits that are unattainable by any other means" which were then applied to adult colouring in the next sentence where they used "benefit that couldn’t be derived from an infinite number of other activities".

In other words - the user was just manufacturing and smuggling in a standard to evaluate the practice - exclusivity - that no one else is actually using in any way. I am not aware of anyone making claims about the benefits of adult colouring - who have been claiming those benefits are in any way exclusive or need to be.

FFred wrote: »

Really, in all my years under the mental health system, I’ve never been prescribed colouring in?

I know someone who spent years in the mental health system and was never prescribed CBT either. When I recommend he seek it out - it changed his life.

It is not that any current therapist is bad for not recommending something that ultimately turns out to be beneficial to you. I think it is more that the mental health system is just not as systematic as when you are perscribed an anti viral for a virus.

Each therapist is probably good at what they do and know - but what they do and know might not be what you particularly need. Shop around. Let each therapist know what was tried with you before - and ask them directly if they specifically work with techniques and ideas that are different. If they do try it - if not then move to the next.

Hope you find something that helps out there!

ardinn wrote: »

Apparently any activity with your hands in front of you performing a task is practicing mindfulness.

I think the correct term for that is "flow" when you lose yourself utterly in a task. Mindfullness meditation and similar is more about increasing your awareness of the present moment. Flow is about totally losing yourself in the present moment. Both seem to be beneficial and are worth seeking out. Tools like coloring probably help us do just that.

One eyed Jack wrote: »

I see it as infantilism. Objectively, that’s all it is, and any claimed benefits remind me of the sort of person who claims that drinking their own piss somehow offers benefits that are unattainable by any other means.

Yet no one is making claims about things like "any other means" or "similar benefits". I am sure in fact that _all_ the claimed benefits of adult colouring can in fact be obtained in a multitude of other pursuits. But so what? Exclusivity is not the standard we should use of measuring benefit here.

I also do not see it as infantilism - I think that is just your go to on a number of subjects where adults do something you do not - but kids often do. But by that standard what is not infantilism? Prayer for example has been shown to be beneficial to people who do it. Even though there is zero evidence of any kind suggesting there is anyone on the receiving end of the prayer.

Infantilism? Sure! They are basically talking to their imaginary friend. How much more infantile can you get? And yet there is seemingly benefits all the same in calming people and helping them focus and take their mind away from their other concerns for a short period of time. Are we to ignore those benefits merely because talking to your imaginary friend is a childish thing to be doing? I certainly hope not! At least if they keep their prayer to themselves - given it has been shown telling people you are praying for them may be actively harmful.

There are studies showing the benefits of adult colouring. There are studies in fact showing that _what_ they are asked to colour and _how_ actually affect the outcomes too. And there are papers and articles discussing why this might be as well. Including an article supporting my two hypothesis that A) the coloring is a tool that focuses our ability to access the power of placebo and that the coloring is a tool to educate them on - or "smuggle in" - mindfulness practices they might otherwise reject or be biased against or not interested in. More research needed of course. What research _you_ did on the matter I guess will remain a mystery.