Living with chronic conditions like fibromyalgia, ADHD, and bipolar disorder means navigating a daily landscape filled with unpredictability and discomfort. Some days, it’s the bone-deep ache that slows me down; other days, it’s the whirlwind of mental fog, impulsivity, or emotional crashes that make the hours feel heavier than they should.
Over time, I’ve discovered something powerful: crafting isn’t just something I enjoy—it’s something I need. Whether I’m swirling pigment into resin or layering textures in a tray mold, I’m not just passing time. I’m reclaiming it.
🎨 Crafting as a Therapeutic Distraction
When my pain flares or my brain decides it wants to spiral, I’ve learned to grab a tool—sometimes a glue gun, sometimes my 3D printer software—and create instead of collapse. Focusing on a tactile task redirects my mind and offers relief, even if temporary. And sometimes that temporary is exactly enough to get me through the day.
Today I mowed. Should I have? Likely not, I was weed eatering (I have no idea what to call it, using the weed eater sounds weird, like use it for what lol, I was using in for its intended purpose LOL) I was around the base of our biggest ‘problem’ tree, I tripped over a root and went tumbling (I was on an incline) but don’t worry, I didnt hurt my hip I landed face first LOL. I got up but knew I was on limited time before the pain made me get down and stay down for the day, so I immediately went in an showered so I could go make art which I did all afternoon. It really didnt feel like I had any pain then after I did some designs I stood up to get something and THERE IT IS! My pain let itself be known. In fact it started screaming at me, my entire body aches.
This isn’t just anecdotal. A study from the University of Colorado found that mental distractions actually inhibit pain at the earliest stages of processing. Basically, when you’re busy crafting or designing something fun or beautiful, your brain says “brb” to the pain (source).
🧠 The Neuroscience of Distracting Pain
Pain is weird. It’s not just in your body—it’s in your brain too. And your brain can be tricked (in the nicest way). Activities that take up cognitive load (like learning a new resin technique or tweaking text in Tinkercad) can literally reduce your brain’s ability to process pain.
There’s even evidence that creative distraction helps people who tend to catastrophize pain—that is, folks whose brains go “this is the worst pain ever and I will never survive this” before breakfast. (Relatable? Same.) (source)
🧺 Turning Pain Into Purpose
I don’t just make things to distract myself—I make things with meaning. Every “Bad Day Basket,” every resin trinket tray, every cheeky 3D-printed phrase like “feel your feelings” or “meds, magic & mindset”—they all come from lived experience.
Helping people has always been a passion of mine, I’ve made up baskets and boxes from coupon shopping, theres nothing like the feeling of doing something of consequence for someone else. Theres an episode of Friends where Phoebe wants to do something selfless, and ever time she does, Joey finds a way it benefited her, concluding that since when you do good for others, you feel happy and proud that you were able to do that, therefore nothing is entirely selfish. Like if you’ve ever vacuumed a new rug, you know the lined pattern you get after for a job well done? Its like that only times a whole bunch more.
These aren’t just products. They’re part of a bigger story—mine, and maybe yours too.
🌟 Creativity as Self-Care (Not Performance)
It’s not about perfection. This isn’t art school. This is about peace. About having something in your hands that makes you feel in control again. About setting your mind gently in another direction for a little while.
Let yourself play.
Let yourself suck at it.
Let yourself create something beautiful—or beautifully messy.
💬 Final Thoughts
Chronic illness will take what it can. Crafting is how I take a little bit back. It’s okay if it’s imperfect. It’s okay if it’s just for you. The act of creating is the win.
If you’re on your own journey through pain or mental health struggles, I hope you’ll try creating something too. And if you don’t know where to start… well, I’ve got some trays and kits with your name on them. Til next time gang, take care of yourselves, and each other!
WannaBeNormal 