MY STORY

 My interest in art therapy began 2001, when I became extremely physically ill. Seeking a diagnosis, was a lengthy process of waiting for openings with specialists, waiting to have tests performed, waiting for results and experimenting with treatments. Eventually, the frustration led to depression which only worsened my situation. Days, then months passed while waiting for an answer, all the time trying to find a way to get through each hour of feeling really sick. I was finally diagnosed with thyroid cancer and began the tedious treatment necessary to recover. Through all this I found some things that helped. These things brought joy to my minutes, they  inspired me to stay hopeful and gave me strength.

   Every day I would go for a walk; a small walk for I didn't have the strength to go very far. The walk was usually around our large yard. The fresh air and the company of my dogs and cats would lift my spirits. However, walking the same route every day started to become boring.  So I began to study things every day, to look closely, very closely. I began to find new revelations.  I discovered that weed flowers are really beautiful.  I realized that often the petals of flowers form a pattern or have unique distributions of color, as if they were a painting on a small canvas. Rain, snow, sun shadows all created new works of art each day. These works would delight me and in turn boost my health, even if it was for just the moment I gazed upon it. I began taking pictures of what I saw in order to experience the delight over and over again.

   Also, every day I would surf the internet. Sitting at the computer and clicking a keyboard doesn't take much strength. The distraction  helped me to temporarily focus on something other than how awful I felt. The sites that were funny or inspiring were the best. I also enjoyed receiving encouraging emails from friends. These internet "goodies" would once again lift my spirits, give me support and strengthen my ability to move forward through my illness. 

  Eventually, I turned to creating "art". Both my children have a keen interest in art, therefore our house always had a good supply of art items, paints, brushes, art paper, colored pencils and more. Since I spent so much time sitting around sick but bored, it was only natural that I picked up some of their art materials. One day I started coloring and I found it to be very soothing. Just the repetitive process of moving a colored pencil back and forth was relaxing. Since, my art wasn't for anyone to see but me, I didn't care how it looked. I drew stick people, faces sad and happy, flowers, my pets, whatever I felt moved to draw at that moment. I eventually attended an Art Therapy group session.  I learned how to incorporate my feelings, my hopes, my illness and my health into my drawings. By doing this, I firmly believe I helped myself to recover and return to a productive, healthy life again. 

   Is is my desire to offer recovery help to those who are now struggling. I had launched Artistheart.com before I became ill, however I only used it for the presentation of artwork by professional artists. After my recovery, I realized my site was also the perfect format to present my recovery art ideas. The photos and downloadable drawings are of nature scenes that gave and continue to give me delight. The inspirational sayings I quote gave and continue to give me hope and strength.  It is my hope that this website will inspire, strengthen and help to heal those who are currently struggling.

UPDATE 2005

    The year of 2004 proved to be another challenging year for me. In Feb. '04 I was diagnosed with atypical lobular hyperplasia in my right breast. This is considered to be a pre-cancerous condition and was guaranteed to show up in the left breast eventually. I was told that the usual course of action was to take a "watch and see" approach by increasing my mammograms.  I knew I would feel like a ticking time bomb. I had a gut feeling that it would definitely turn into cancer at some point in the future.  Not wanting to wait and watch, I chose to have a dual mastectomy, with reconstructive surgery. When I had my removal surgery in April the pathologist found that I actually did have ductal cancer in my left breast.  My mammogram had not picked up anything amiss in the left breast. So I was very glad I decided to have a dual mastectomy. I had reconstructive surgery in June.  In July, my doctor and I decided that I should have a complete hysterectomy. Since I had been diagnosed with two cancers and since my Mother had died of ovarian cancer, I was considered at high risk to develop ovarian or uterine cancer.  In Oct '04, I had my final surgery of the year. Now it has been a year since my first surgery. I have pretty much totally recovered. Once again I am out taking photos and breathing in the wonderful smell of nature. AND, I'm looking forward to many more years of artistic therapy.

Teri