The hobby that helped me beat depression and anxiety.

I talk about how Miniature Painting - and other, similar sorts of hobbies - can have a beneficial and therapeutic effect for people who struggle with mental health issues, anxiety, and depression. In a COVID 19 pandemic world, more and more people are dealing with these challenges. It has become much more acceptable to talk openly about it, and my hope here is to show just one thing that might help people to cope. This could be one of the most important videos I have ever - or will ever - posted, so please like and share if you found it helpful (so it can reach more people).
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[TheMiniJunkie]

Have you found this hobby - or one like it - has helped you with mental health, or even just the stresses of daily life? Share your story below! It's been amazing to hear from viewers and how much miniature painting has made things better for them in various ways.

[GoobertownHobbies]

Great video, Jarrett! There's a lot of power in picking up a brush and in finding a community :-)

[DragonsUnicorns]

Thank you so much for sharing this. I really got a lot of it. Working with you hands has proven to be a more effective way to move from depression to expression because there is a psychological effect of having the work in your hands. Then, as you said, having a physical thing tangible afterwards is also so satisfying.

[akoni]

Back in 2003, I was homeless and living in an old VW van. One of the major things that helped me from a looming downward spiral was this hobby. Now I look back at that time with positivity because I elevated myself from a bad place. I have fond memories of building and painting a large Vampire Counts army in my van while parked at the beach in San Francisco rather than feeling defeated by life’s trials. Good stuff, sir!

[martinradcliffe]

Absolutely- I suffered a life changing illness in 2003. A return to miniature painting a few years later was a huge help to me.

[MrCrystalwarrior]

I'm right here with you on this subject :-) I'm a man in his mid-50's now, left isolated by age and the lock-downs here in Ireland, and painting my minis to fit into my self-created sci-fi/fantasy stories has saved me from self-harming and even worse the past couple of years. I use my hobby as a form of escape and meditation, as well as a creative outlet for the anger that is always simmering away inside me every day. I don't watch TV, have stopped listening to the news on the radio, and just play my favourite CD's while painting, and lose myself in the painting of my next mini. The positive feelings that come from finishing up to three minis a day now has left me on a "high" now, and I have a growing collection of figures and terrain that I never thought possible. The days fly by when I'm painting, and the benefits from my hobby have been uncountable as a result. I've stopped buying new minis, and now just paint my "pile of shame" that has haunted me for a long time. The only thing is now, my "pile of shame" has dwindled so much that I need to buy more figures, just to keep up with how much I'm painting every day :-D Hobbies help with mental health problems just as much as talking to someone who cares about you, or exercising (Going for a walk in the fresh air, etc, nothing majorly physical), or just being around pets. Knowing you're not alone is of a huge benefit, and this video has shown just how much the miniature painting hobby can make a HUGE difference in your mind-set and life. Thank you so much for your bravery in making it, and for sharing it with the community out there :-D Stay strong, my man, things will get better eventually :-D

[petethescalemodeller]

I am a scale modeller, yes it has saved my life literally .. I'm not actually joking, thank you for making this video..

[dadrandm]

I've been suffering from bad depression most of my life and now crippling panic attacks and anxiety. I've been painting minis seriously since 2013. My first mini I tried to paint was one from the board game HeroQuest in 1991 when I was in middle school.
I'm about your age, 40s, and this video hit hard. It was like listening to myself.
You earned a big sub here, my friend!! Take care.

[lennybaker]

Thank you for sharing this… I painted miniatures as an adolescent… in pewter. I picked up again as a recommendation from someone who recognized I was suffering from depression. I am in my 40’s… happily married…. great career. Thou not a solution, a tremendous boost and well a lot of fun. Cheers.

[you]

I've loved this hobby since I was a kid. It was a great help in dealing with PTSD after returning from Iraq 15 years ago. I'm 48 now and it is still the one of the most relaxing and rewarding activities I enjoy.

[crazmadsci]

I'm a stay at home mom with small children. During this pandemic it's been incredibly difficult to even tell what day of the week it is. Miniature painting has helped me keep track of time and not get lost in the fog of never leaving the house and life. Every miniature finished shows me the passage of time. Every terrain piece makes me look forward to my future in sharing with my kids. The hobby has significantly helped me in more ways than I can articulate but those above are only the tip of the iceberg.

[Ryanironwolf]

This helped me today specifically. Fighting alot of demons for sure and right now can't really paint or do some of the stuff that quiets those demons like painting, reading, and gaming. So I hear you and I know what you mean. I've always used mini painting as a relief from the world and my mind. Zen is exactly what I've always said it was for me and I am glad to hear I am not the only one. Thank you for sharing and thanks for your bravery and the time you take to show us your cool toy soldiers!

[stuartward]

I am 60 and returned to the hobby 15 years ago. My 4 children had all grown up and left home having families of their own, my wife is partially disabled and I was working full time looking after my wife and the home. I needed an outlet and miniature painting and terrain building helped me enormously. I refer to my time in the hobby room (man cave) as entering the time machine as time literally disappears. 2 hours feels like 10 minutes and during that time all other issues dissappear, without this hobby I would most likely be lost in the fog of everyday life.
Any hobby can clear this fog but for me it's miniatures and the world's we create with them. I have a pile of shame and flit from project to project but I wouldn't change that for anything. Great video and nice to hear others who have benefited from the hobby.

[jspens]

I’ve been painting miniatures since 2011 the year I first came into recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. The amount of patience and mind stillness from this hobby is priceless

[waynehaywood]

Fantastic video.
As a long term sufferer of depression, I came into mini painting by accident and soon realised how much it lifted my mood. And it's also one of the most inclusive communities I've been exposed to. We'll done for making this and I urge anyone to talk about their mental health issues 👍

[brookstoner]

Thank you for this video! I am a retired veteran with PTSD and some other disabilities. When I returned from Iraq in 2004, I lost interest in a lot of things that made me happy including my hobby of building 15mm WW2 units, vehicles and terrain for Flames of War. In 2017, I found my big stash of miniatures while going through therapy and I rediscovered a really great outlet for dealing with the depression/PTSD symptoms. I agree with you that this hobby can be therapeutic.I believe it is the creative aspect of beginning and completing the project that helps. It is positive and harmless and people who see my work are complimentary which really helps. I encourage others to give it a try. I also encourage anyone who has PTSD or depression to seek help and stay strong.

[bamaretiredgruntscottb.]

I was medically retired in 2013. I am diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety, depression and a severe sleep disorder. After retirement, I needed something to occupy some of my time and give me focus. I got back in to wargaming after a long hiatus. After I got in to wargaming again, painting miniatures soon followed. Between gaming and painting of miniatures, I have found some very good people to associate with. The hobbies have given me focus that allows me to enjoy the time not spent on them to relax and enjoy life for what it is. As far as hiding my hobbies, my wife fully embraces me "painting my dolls" and wargaming. She sees it as something I enjoy and is fully supportive. So when people ask me if I have any hobbies, I tell them that I do historical wargaming and paint miniatures. When I share the progress on my Gettysburg project, folks are curious as to what all is going in to it.

[beeleywood]

I have PTSD, depression and anxiety, the big 3. Two things have helped me combat them, the first was going back into education. I enrolled at university and achieved my degree in education and professional development. I currently working on my masters and hope to gain my PHD. However' the rewards, although great, are few and far between; this led me to painting miniatures. The YouTube algorithm decided I wanted to watch someone painting Napoleonic miniatures and I was hooked. I can tame my black dog during a painting session; so much so I don't even hear it bark. For me miniature painting gives me the same joy I used to enjoy reading a book - I lack concentration to read now. It quite literally saved my life. (I am 56, married and went through life thinking nothing or no one could ever hurt me; I was wrong)

[luissandovaljr]

I needed this video. It was honest and a covered a lot of ground. Thank you!

[heartlessmachine]

Hey man there is no shame in mental illness! It breaks my heart that you were even a tiny bit nervous for people to see this video, this shows that the stigma around mental illness is still all too real. You are very brave for posting this, and as a mini painter with some psychological troubles myself a greatly, greatly appreciate it. Much love! <3