Tickled Pink
The color pink makes me genuinely happy. Burnt orange gives me cozy vibes. Dark green makes me think of winter and Christmas. So what?
So…there is an alternative medicine practice known as color therapy, which as the name suggests, utilizes color to treat certain mental illnesses. Now, as I’ve said approximately one million times before, I am not a doctor. Additionally, color therapy is a pretty controversial method of treatment. Google color therapy, and you will immediately see words like “pseudoscience” and questions such as “Does color therapy really work?”
The fact of the matter is I have no idea. But, I’m inclined to think there must be something to it. For an extremely girly example, take red lipstick. When you see a woman with a bold red lip you assume she is a badass. She didn’t just role out of bed and stumble in with a statement lip like that. She gives off a very put-together, passionate vibe, a don’t-mess-with-me vibe. In the context of color therapy, red is used to energize and stimulate, while blue is very much the opposite, promoting rest and calmness.
I recently became interested in color therapy, when a girlfriend of mine gave me a COLORS FOR GOOD bracelet. She knew I’d been going through a season of high anxiety, and so she gave me a blue bracelet, which is supposed to emit vibrations of peace. I absolutely love it. If nothing else, when I look down at my wrist I know the bracelet is meant to represent peace, which reminds me to make peace a priority in my day. But, how does color therapy actually work?
Based on my very limited research, color therapy can utilize the eyes and/or skin. Experiencing color through sight is probably the method most of us are more familiar with. From a decorating perspective, it totally makes sense to me. I specifically chose the colors in my home based on the overall vibe/feeling I wanted each room to have. I wanted my bedroom to feel light and airy. I wanted it to be void of any harsh or bold colors that could be distracting or overpowering. So, I went with a true white for the walls, comforter, etc. For my (small) bathroom, I wanted a dramatic effect. So, a bright emerald was my pick.
Experiencing the effects of color through the skin is a bit harder for me to comprehend. However, (again based on my limited research) color therapy can also occur by exposing different areas of skin to colored lights. If you’ve ever heard of red light therapy, this is a somewhat similar concept. Though red light therapy is more focused on physical attributes.
I plan to read a book (or five) about color therapy, and will likely be doing a much more in-depth blog post in the future. But, for now, I just wanted to share a potential option for treating anxiety, depression, etc. I’m all about thinking outside the box when it comes to managing my mental illnesses. If color therapy could potentially help me, you bet I’m interested! As always, talk with your doctor before pursuing any new treatment methods for mental illness.
-D (writing from my pink living room)
