Adult Coloring Books
Hello everyone!
I have found that using adult coloring books has really helped with my anxiety becasue it keeps my hands busy. Has anyone else been able to find help using these?
I recently bought 2 for myself and my sister. I got myself a dragon one while my sis has a fairy coloring book. I want to use them soon. :)
@HeckhoundBreaker5 that's awesome! I hope you and your sister enjoy colouring in them when you get started!
I love my coloring books. I haven't had them out much the past two months because of so many summer reading challenges. But those are winding down in a couple of weeks, so I'll probably be coloring more often again.
@BridgetAileen nice!! I hope you've been enjoying reading all the books you've been reading, and that you also enjoy getting back to your colouring books when you do. What do you enjoy colouring with...crayons, markers, pencil crayons? 
@Moj, I use gel pens and colored pencils mostly; however, I will sometimes use markers. I often combine pens and pencils. I've thought about using markers as a base layer and then using pens or pencils on top. However, I've not tried that out yet.
For anyone who hasn't yet discovered swear word coloring books, i highly reccommend checking them out. There's nothing like coloring pages of hillarious and inappropriate phrases to turn a bad mood around
@raspberryMoon5394 haha, I've seen those, but haven't bought any yet. But yes...they are pretty funny!! I'm glad you find they're helpful in bringing a smile back to your face. 
They are a great tool for soothing and feeling peaceful in tough situations. ❤❤❤
@philosophicalShip9444 they really are! Taking time to just sit and colour for a bit can be great for calming anxieties and worry at times!
@Moj maybe I should spend my evening coloring 😊
@philosophicalShip9444 if you do, I hope you enjoy it!!
@Rocketgirl16 I find them really helpful to ground me on days when I'm dissociating a lot and my head is all foggy.
@LifeIsMyCanvas I'm glad you find them helpful on days you are struggling with those things. That's great you have something you are able to go to when you find yourself dissociating to help ground you. Do you find that taking time to colour helps you through these times and bring yourself back to the now?
@Moj yeah i get so absorbed in it that nothing else matters for those few moments. it's a rare break from my illness and anxiety. It really surprises me but i've never had a flashback or anything like I'd normally deal with, whilst creating.
@LifeIsMyCanvas I'm glad you're able to find that escape while you colour and create.
@Rocketgirl16 you can also Google color pages any themes and print them out
@Rebekahwriter13 that's a great idea! I know a friend of mine has done that often, I've only done it once...now I'm out of ink, so will have to wait til I have more again.
@Moj, I *hate* when I run out of ink. Makes me feel all 
. LOL! When I had an ink jet printer, it wasn't so bad. But I have a laser printer now (so I can print things out to use with my Copic markers...the ink jet ink will bleed with Copics). The laser ink cartriges are so much more expensive; however, they do last a lot longer, so maybe it's just how much I have to pay at one time is more.
There are a lot of nice images online. I usually hit up Pinterest.
@BridgetAileen yes, it drives me crazy too! I've been without ink for far too long...haha!! I think maybe it's time I look into getting a laser printer, might help in that ink lasting. We'll see...I guess I don't use it enough to make sure I've always got ink around, lol! Funny thing is, that it's probably almost as much or more to buy ink than to just purchase another printer with the ink included! 
@Moj, I know, right? Printer ink can really make the pocketbook squeal sometimes. I love my laser printer. I think it can do everything except automatically print on both sides. I'd still have to do that the old fashioned manual way. If I'd gotten just black and white, it would have done double-sided printing without me setting it up in the print menu.
I had considered having an ink jet printer for color and the laser for black and white only. However, the sales guy told me that it was cheaper just to go with laser only. I'd probably still have ink jet if I hadn't wanted to use alcohol markers on digital line art. And I love how much faster it is!
@BridgetAileen I agreee, those laser printers are so much faster!! Amazing how fast they spit out those papers!
I purchased an adult colouring book from the drugstore. It has pages of garden themes and flowers to colour in. I feel that engaging in crafting projects is a way to cope and heal from situations which one is going through, in their lives.
I agree, it can definitely be a helpful way to cope, and at times is just healing for the heart and soul.
I actually haven't gotten a chance to go out and find one yet, but I managed to find an app. It's definitely different, but at least I still get to do a bit of coloring to distract myself when I need to :) Definitely need to buy a physical coloring book soon too
@Rocketgirl16
I love my coloring books to. Thanks for sharing
@scarletPear1945, I've been coloring ever since I was a wee little thing. ;) My mom used to sit down with me to color. She'd take one side of the book and I'd take the opposite page (or we'd color on the same picture). So by coloring with me, she taught me a lot. I was so little when she started that I don't remember it...just her telling me about it. It was before my sister was born. So it was before I was 3 1/2 years old. I've always loved coloring, so I was thrilled when the adult coloring books came out. :D
@BridgetAileen what a beautiful memory that is 
thanks for sharing with us.
My coloring books help me to relax so much
@scarletPear1945 that's great! I'm glad they help you relax
Might try these! I'm a very arty person and would love to get creative again.
@sympatheticGrapes4158, it certainly won't hurt to give it a try. They have so many different kinds that it's easy to find something you'd like to color. You'll have to let us know if you try it and how you like it. :)
@BridgetAileen
Thanks. I will try it. Sometimes I feel guilty doing stuff for myself as opposed to cleaning the house, but I need to look at it as a positive thing for my family I guess rather than a selfish thing.
@sympatheticGrapes4158, I understand that. However, we have to take time for ourselves. We need to recharge and love ourselves so that we have the energy to do those things for others.
@scarletPear1945i think that's a brilliant idea! So many people have found them so useful with their recovery.
I hope it all works out for you