It’s essential to figure out which way is best for you to manage fibromyalgia symptoms both physically and mentally. Not only does it help reduce a flare in symptoms, but it also lowers stress, a significant contributor to an influx in pain. This article will discuss painting to relieve stress and chronic pain with Winnie’s Picks.
The Chronic Pain and Fibromyalgia Connection
For me, issues in my right shoulder caused chronic pain. Because the chronic pain went untreated for as long as it did, it caused the development of fibromyalgia. I used to say fibro and chronic pain was one condition, but this is not true. Pain is a condition that should be treated at its source. For example, back pain or, as in my case, shoulder pain. Fibromyalgia, however, is another condition. But someone can also have chronic pain as a symptom of fibromyalgia.
In either case, chronic pain causes a multitude of issues on its own and should be managed at the source of the issue. Management could be medicine, natural remedies, or alternative care, such as chiropractic or physical therapy. Another option is to find stress-relieving activities you enjoy.
We talked about gaming to relieve stress and cope with pain and fibro symptoms, and here’s another option: painting.
Painting to Relieve Stress and Chronic Pain
Aside from medicine and natural remedies, there are various ways of coping with chronic pain and fibromyalgia symptoms. We discussed gaming as one way, and here’s another way to do it: painting.
According to Tessera Brandon’s article The Benefits of Painting for Brain & Mental Health, painting has numerous benefits such as:
- Promoting stress relief
- Expanding creative growth
- Bolstering memory
- Enhancing problem-solving and motor skills
- Cultivating emotional growth
- Stimulating an optimistic attitude
All of these directly improve the symptoms of fibromyalgia and chronic pain.
Painting with Winnie’s Picks
A few months ago, I had the pleasure of reviewing a product from Winnie’s Picks, a company that specializes in paint-by-numbers kits.
Winnie and Gaetan founded the company in 2017, providing premium kits with high-quality paint. In 2019, they partnered with a Californian warehouse to improve packaging and shipping from the United States.
Company Features I Love
With a variety of kits from an assortment of collections, there is something for everyone. Customers can even send the company a photo of their choice to convert into a customized paint-by-number kit.
On the website, their blog contains numerous tutorials ranging from painting for beginners to framing a finished product (they also have a kit you can purchase that includes a set of wooden stretchers for one canvas). It also contains articles about the benefits of painting, the relaxing power of painting, and others.
Aside from the ease of ordering a product, I also like their fast shipping time and the secure packaging of the product. It arrived in a strong, durable tube containing the entire kit. Even with the delivery people being rough with the delivery of our packages, it held up quite nicely without a dent. THAT is superior packing!
My Paint-By-Number Kit
Choosing a product wasn’t easy for me. It started with deciding which collection to choose (there are so many great ones) and then picking just one. Each collection has a range of beautiful kits, but I decided on ‘Beautiful Magnolias’ from the Flowers collection.
Each kit comes with all the supplies needed to paint a stunning creation:
- High-quality linen canvas (16” x 20”)
- A set of four brushes
- Numbered acrylic paints (with plenty to spare)
- Painting instructions
It took me about a month or so to complete my canvas. I worked on it in spurts when I could. While painting, I let my mind wander, and the stress rolls off my back. I played classical music in the background and didn’t think much. I only painted in small intervals, but any amount has proven beneficial.
Painting for the Family
While I wouldn’t recommend these kits for younger children, my oldest daughter also enjoyed painting some of my canvas. She’s an artist and enjoys creating art through various mediums, including paint. She was thrilled at the chance to try it, and she, too, enjoyed it.
If you have older children, this is a great way to enjoy time together as a family. It can be an ongoing project, and when it’s completed, the finished canvases can be framed and hung on the wall for all to enjoy. It’s a chance to bond while painting and letting the conversation go where it will.