| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
audlorenns
New Pal
Canada
7 Posts |
 Posted - 01/23/2012 : 3:59:53 PM
|
| I have found knitting to be very therapeutic. I love making projects for others such as afghans, pillows, scarves, touques and mittens. Trying new and challenging patterns keeps me on my toes. |
|
|
donnawatk
Seriously Hooked
659 Posts |
Posted - 01/24/2012 : 05:06:18 AM
|
| Hi Audlorenns, I have living proof that knitting can be therapeutic. I had high blood pressure and knitting has help bring it down. I think this the best stress reliever. Donna |
 |
|
|
sherrya
Warming Up
USA
55 Posts |
Posted - 01/25/2012 : 7:00:10 PM
|
| I agree! When the weather is nice I will sit outside in the parking lot at work to knit. Nobody bothers me and I am very relaxed. Only problem is that I don't want to go back. |
|
|
|
Susan LaMontagne
New Pal
2 Posts |
Posted - 01/26/2012 : 04:09:09 AM
|
| Knitting is a great therapy. When I broke my arm/wrist 3 years ago, knitting helped me re-gain the dexterity I'd lost in my fingers. I knit every day and I know it keeps me relaxed. Whenever I'm stressed, I pick up a project to focus on. |
|
|
|
Sunflower
New Pal
USA
4 Posts |
Posted - 01/26/2012 : 06:57:25 AM
|
I agree with these posts; knitting has helped me calm down from work in the medical field.
|
|
|
|
Dampal2000
New Pal
8 Posts |
Posted - 01/26/2012 : 08:27:16 AM
|
| A couple of weeks ago I came home on a Friday after a HORRIFIC day at work, that ended in office-wide panic due to the sudden defection of 5 top employees to a competitor. Everyone was just flipping out. The stress was terrible! I felt like getting drunk, only ... oh yeah!! I DON'T DRINK!!! So, I decided to immerse myself in a new knitting challenge, and spent the next 8 hours - until well into the wee hours of the next morning - researching the process and learning how to knit socks from the Toe-Up, practicing my JMCO skills, and gathering various sock patterns. The process completely absorbed me, diverting my mind and energy from re-running the days events and "What if ..." scenarios. If that's not therapeutic - sanity saving, in fact - I don't know what is!!! |
|
|
|
knithappy
New Pal
USA
5 Posts |
Posted - 01/26/2012 : 08:45:03 AM
|
| Last spring I had shoulder surgery and I was unable to move my right arm for 6 weeks. I could move my hand, though, and was able to knit. I finished a sweater for myself, a baby sweater, and two scarves for Christmas gifts. My physical therapist couldn't believe how quickly I recovered complete use of my arm, and has new respect for knitting as PT. |
|
|
|
Dampal2000
New Pal
8 Posts |
Posted - 01/26/2012 : 09:13:46 AM
|
| A couple of weeks ago I came home on a Friday after a HORRIFIC day at work, that ended in office-wide panic due to the sudden defection of 5 top employees to a competitor. Everyone was just flipping out. The stress was terrible! I felt like getting drunk, only ... oh yeah!! I DON'T DRINK!!! So, I decided to immerse myself in a new knitting challenge, and spent the next 8 hours - until well into the wee hours of the next morning - researching the process and learning how to knot socks from the Toe-Up, practicing my JMCO skills, and gathering various sock patterns. The process completely absorbed me, diverting my mind and energy from re-running the days events and "What if ..." scenarios. If that's not therapeutic - sanity saving, in fact - I don't know what is!!! |
|
|
|
kcknitnut
New Pal
USA
32 Posts |
Posted - 01/26/2012 : 11:15:50 AM
|
| I'm 83 yrs old and find that knitting keeps my hands and fingers flexable. Also difficult patterns keeps my mental clarity up to snuff. right now a new book of Paton patterns has a pattern from the neck down and it is REALLY calling for concentration. |
|
|
|
PBELKNAP
Permanent Resident
USA
1127 Posts |
Posted - 01/26/2012 : 11:45:29 AM
|
I definitely find that knitting (and crocheting) preserve my sanity!
I also tend to be somewhat shy, so it also serves as an ice-breaker, when I knit in public. Also, I've joined an SnB group, which enhances my social skills.
If nothing else, coming home after a LONG day at work and working on a project gives me the satisfaction of knowing that I'm good at SOMETHING.
*************************
PAM
Twitter Name = WildKnitter
Blog: http://wildknitter.blogspot.com
If I could only do this for a living... |
|
|
|
carlyta
New Pal
USA
15 Posts |
Posted - 01/26/2012 : 12:45:06 PM
|
Last year was a very difficult year for me: being fired from my job; low finances. The only thing that kept helped keep me sane beside my 2 daughters and 2 grandkids was my knitting. It is VERY therapeutic. It's nothing like seeing fabric develop before your eyes while you're knitting. Knitting helped me solve and get over the problems I had. I have a herniated disk in my back, when it flares up, I sit down to knit and the pain goes away. Even reading a knitting book or magazine helps calm me down. I'm so used to knitting now that I simply can't just sit down and do nothing. I have to be have a set of knitting needles in my hand working on a pattern or one of my designs. Joining a knitting group also helped keep my mind off my problems by talking about knitting and helping other members of my group with their knitting.
Carlyta |
|
|
|
calicokitty6
Seriously Hooked
USA
864 Posts |
Posted - 01/26/2012 : 12:46:03 PM
|
I find knitting and spinning both help me to relax. I managed to get off one of my blood pressure meds thanks to these two activities.
=^..^= Debbie http://calicokitty6.blogspot.com |
|
|
|
Corddrymum
Gabber Extraordinaire
USA
518 Posts |
Posted - 01/26/2012 : 1:05:41 PM
|
I completely agree with all of you. After a bad day at work or issues with my kids I can sit down and pick up my knitting and feel myself relax. There's nothing like it. Even if I have to frog something I can do it calmly because I just like to knit so doing it again isn't a problem. Makes my wife crazy though.
My only problem is when I have an issue with a pattern and can't figure it out like the sweater I'm working on now. Just have to put it down and walk away because I get very upset with myself. |
|
|
|
Ridgeknitter
New Pal
1 Posts |
Posted - 01/26/2012 : 1:14:02 PM
|
Knitting virtually saved my sanity. It's also my "Canary in the Mind" (yes, "mind" intended, not "mine". I returned to knitting after many decades having learned as a child.
Having spent more than a decade taking care of my parents I was no longer a caregiver, and my marriage suffered greatly because of it. I took up knitting again about four and a half years ago after my father passed, although I wasn't sure how how I would fare without my mom helping me when I got into trouble. Alzheimers made sure that for more than a decade, she would not be able to be there for me ever again. Thank goodness for YouTube!
Life has vastly improved! I've stitched my life back together. I have made many new friends from helping to start a local library knitting/crocheting group. I have a way of creating anew each time I start a new pattern. I have the joy of finishing, wearing or gifting each thing I make. I'm often challenged by many a pattern and love having succeeded.
Knitting will also provide me and those who know me with a clear warning bell if I'm headed down that path of no return.... It was the first hint I had that all was not well with my mom.
In the meantime, I'm loving every stitch I knit, rejoice over every finished project, and savor the next pattern waiting to be knit and the ones after that!.
|
|
|
|
tamdoll@comcast.net
New Pal
USA
16 Posts |
Posted - 01/26/2012 : 1:49:58 PM
|
Knitting has always helped to keep me calm - if I have to wait in line somewhere, or sit still for too long I'll pull a project out of my purse and work on it so I don't get distracted and or frustrated. Lately, I've been recovering from a hip replacement and all the thinking and sitting and knitting has helped me focus and really concentrate on projects and planning on what I'd like to do next - without it I think I'd be overeating or just playing video games. At least this way I have something to show for my idle time!
http://tamdoll.blogspot.com
http://www.tamdoll.etsy.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tamdoll |
|
|
|
KnittingKittens
Chatty Knitter
USA
161 Posts |
Posted - 01/27/2012 : 04:15:24 AM
|
| There is something about getting a nice knitting rhythm going that keeps one's sanity after bad days at work and the life stresses we all must cope with. When it is all a bit much, I know my needles and yarn are always there for me. Oh and the kitteh-cat too --I must give Missy her props! |
|
|
|
bellsonme@yahoo.com
New Pal
3 Posts |
Posted - 01/27/2012 : 12:48:39 PM
|
When I lost my job in 2008, knitting kept me from losing my mind. There's nothing like a nice stash to dive into when you don't have any yarn money -- just remember that when you think you have too much yarn.  |
|
|
|
Irish Red
Warming Up
USA
58 Posts |
Posted - 01/29/2012 : 10:48:38 AM
|
I so agree with all of you. I started knitting after knee surgery, learning socks as my first project. Then came several shoulder surgeries and 8 operations on my hands. But I kept knitting, despite the depression that came with no longer being able to keep my job and many other activities I lost because of my uncooperative body.
Discovered I didn't like knitting socks, but everything else is a delight. If I'm not knitting,(and I am a lot slower after the hand surgeries), I read. And a lot of my reading is about knitting! It is a wonderful way to bring down my heart rate, blood pressure, and soothe away all those aches and pains. I completely agree that it would be a wonderful benchmark for detecting incipient Alzheimer's (God forbid!). I alternate between challenging patterns and no-brainers, knitting whenever I am in a waiting mode. It is a great conversation starter, and for passing the time I would spend fretting about how much of my time has been frittered away waiting. (I like those words, 'fretting and frittered'....cute how they go together). But I digress. I encourage people with all sorts of injuries and ailments to take up knitting, as it can effectiviely take your mind off your physical state, if only for a short time).
The Industrious Bee |
|
|
|
busygirl
Permanent Resident
Australia
1672 Posts |
Posted - 02/01/2012 : 11:57:22 AM
|
I have always found knitting calming and therapeutic,even more so during the past five months,as my family and I relocated from New Zealand to Australia.I have joined a knitting group at a LYS and so look forward to the weekly meeting where we knit,chat and laugh together.
My Pics
http://www.flickr.com/photos/busygirl/
My Blog
http://lesliea-cosycorner.blogspot.com/ |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
Knitting As A Form Of Therapy
