Aging, Anxiety and the Therapeutic Benefits of Group Activity

“Remember that the pain of today will pass, and that you will regain your spirit and drive to live, to learn, and, yes, to thrive and create.”
—Dr. Carolyn Anderson

At 84, I was overwhelmed by profound loneliness and unrelenting suicidal thoughts and I wanted to be rid of the mental pain that had me trapped by OCD and lying in bed for hours during the day. At the same time, ironically, I wanted to be involved in meaningful activities and engaged with other people. But my self-absorption, low self-esteem, and lack of energy isolated me. Then one day, after failed efforts to be productive, I decided to make an appointment with my psychotherapist. Fortunately for me, that gesture has produced enormous benefits, which include leading me to join Grouper. But I have not achieved recovery without commitment and sustained efforts. Today, my mantra is patience and self-compassion.

In the spring of 2022, my psychotherapist introduced me to a book on “visual journaling,” which uses drawing and painting to express and understand emotions. I started practicing this technique, following the suggestions for unpacking repressed memories through art. After a few weeks, I shared my spontaneous drawings with my therapist, who encouraged me to reflect on the colors and emotions behind each piece. Her nonjudgmental approach helped me continue, and one of my drawings even gained brief attention on Facebook as the work of an anonymous octogenarian artist.

By July 2022, I was on an upward path, moving toward a more emotionally balanced lifestyle. These psychotherapies enabled me to accept and live with, but not be disabled by, anxiety and depression. To date, a combination of talk therapy, visual journaling, arts and crafts, mindfulness meditation, and walks in my neighborhood park, to name a few, have proven to be effective psychotherapies for me.

Now, even though I live alone, I don’t feel alone since I joined Grouper.

In July 2024, I discovered Grouper! Searching online for artistic activities to expand my arts and crafts, I found several classes that seemed right for me as an untrained artist—including Briana’s Creative Arts Club (samples of my art from Briana’s class are below!) and Jennifer’s Art Appreciation. Searching online for artistic activities to expand my arts and crafts, I found several classes that seemed right for me as an untrained artist—including Briana’s Creative Arts Club and Jennifer’s Art Appreciation. Both classes have expanded my creative ideas and virtual communities. Now, even though I live alone, I don’t feel alone since I joined Grouper. My online “colleagues” share stories that bring me into their personal lives with compelling anecdotes about their families, their travels, including places to purchase inexpensive art supplies, different ways to use art tools, even ways to think outside the art toolbox.

I recall a session in which we were asked to use blue and other cool colors for our painting activity. One participant remarked that the colors and movement of her hand made her feel so relaxed and cheerful. Those were precisely my sentiments. I didn’t speak up, but I felt excited enough to echo her and post my sentiments in the chat box.

At Grouper, I have found creative activities that serve as antidotes to anxiety and depression. I have also found an online community of creative and interesting people!