I’m going to assume that if you’re on my blog you like to crochet and/or you’re neurodivergent. Maybe you’re neurodivergent and interested in crocheting, but are wondering what would be the benefit to getting into the hobby. Maybe you already crochet and you’re curious as to why it seems to have such a positive effect on you. In today’s post, I’m going to talk about 4 of the benefits of crocheting for people who are neurodivergent. I’m sure there are many more you could come up with, but these are a few that I’ve noticed are true for myself.
Acts as a soothing stim
Many neurodivergent people, especially those who are Autistic and/or who have ADHD (like myself), like to “stim.” If you’re not familiar with the term, stimming is when someone engages in repetitive movements/behaviors as a way to self-soothe and/or provide sensory input. Crochet is a great stim for a few reasons. First and foremost, it involves a lot of repetitive movements that I find soothing. Depending on the yarn I’m using, it can add a nice soft sensory element as well.
Without something to keep my hands busy, my go-to stim tends to be picking at or biting my nails and the skin on my fingers which, as you might imagine, can become painful and cause open wounds on my hands which are less than ideal. Crocheting while I’m in the car (as a passenger, of course) or watching a movie keeps me from engaging in some of those more harmful stimming behaviors.
Encourages mindfulness and reduces stress
Mindfulness is the practice of being aware of and tuned into your surroundings, internal state, and the present moment. A lot of mental health professionals recommend engaging in a mindfulness practice as it has been found to have a number of benefits, including reducing stress and emotional reactivity and increasing cognitive flexibility.
If you crochet with intention, it can be a very mindful activity. I personally find myself being most mindful when I’m challenging myself with a new pattern. It more or less forces you to tune out any distractions and focus on the pattern and what you’re making. If you’re interested in learning more about crocheting for mindfulness, check out this post from Bella Coco Crochet.
Provides a creative outlet
Neurodivergent people, especially those with ADHD, often tend to describe themselves as creatives. Regardless of neurotype, research has shown that creative expression has a positive impact on mental health and wellbeing. Crochet is obviously an activity that allows you to express yourself creatively which, in turn, can be very beneficial. In fact, one study looked at crochet specifically and found it to have a positive impact on mental health.
Personally, I notice a huge difference in my mental health when I’m regularly engaging in creative activities vs. when I’m not. I’m far more stressed out and irritable when I’m not allowing myself to be creative enough. I think everyone probably benefits from regular creative expression. Why not use crochet as that creative outlet?
Builds confidence and sense of accomplishment
Last but not least, I find crocheting helps build your confidence and sense of accomplishment. I find myself feeling a nice little confidence boost when I’ve finished a particularly challenging project or when I get an unexpected compliment on something I’ve made. I sometimes can’t help but feel pretty accomplished looking at something I’ve created, especially if it’s a bigger project. I remember when I finished crocheting blankets for my twin nephews and I was so proud of myself – those were the first two projects I ever completed!
This does come with the caveat that you have to be able to look at the positives of what you’ve made. We are our own worst critics and it is all too easy to focus on the flaws and imperfections. If that’s all you’re able to focus on, then it’s not going to provide the same boost. It may be easier said than done but even if you hate the end result, try to focus on the positives that you at least stuck it out and completed the project! That’s something worth celebrating.
These are just 4 of the many benefits of crocheting for those of us who are neurodivergent. I’d love to hear from you – what are some of the benefits you get out of crocheting?
