Exploring Endometriosis Through Expressive Arts

By Savannah Dasilva.

I’m excited to share my latest project: an expressive arts digital zine focused on endometriosis. This project is not just a creative outlet; it’s a compassionate and creative space to explore the complexities of living with a chronic condition through art, words, and community.

Endometriosis is a condition that affects millions with chronic pain, fatigue, and emotional stress. My digital zine brings together my personal experience and therapeutic creativity, offering both a lens of understanding and a toolkit of expressive arts therapy strategies that you can try at home. Whether you’re a fellow creative arts therapist, a client navigating chronic illness, or simply curious, I hope this zine sparks inspiration and curiosity.

Download zine here

The Power of Expressive Arts in Chronic Illness

Expressive arts therapy has always felt like a bridge between mind and body, suffering and relief, and isolation and community. When chronic conditions like endometriosis disrupt everyday life, traditional therapy like talk therapy can sometimes fall short of expressing the full extent of lived experience.

That’s where the digital zine format shines: it’s accessible, intimate, and versatile. By combining activities such as poetry, visual art, and resources, the digital zine creates a multi-sensory experience that resonates on multiple levels. For those living with endometriosis, it becomes a mirror reflecting pain and hope; for therapists, a rich resource to understand and support clients creatively.

Reflecting on My Lived Experience

Creating this zine was both a professional and a deeply personal goal. As someone with firsthand experience of endometriosis symptoms, I know the loneliness and frustration it can bring. But through expressive arts, I discovered a way to give those feelings form and voice.

One piece is a painting of mine I did when I first recognized my symptoms. It represents pain, medical gaslighting and dismissal, understanding, and hope. Other activities include brief poems that describe moments of strength amid struggle, or a body-mapping activity to develop a stronger mind-body connection. I want to share these ideas to provide an alternative outlet for those who wish to explore their endometriosis journey holistically and creatively.

Practical Tips for Using Expressive Arts with Endometriosis

If you’re a therapist or client considering expressive arts as a therapeutic approach, here are a few practical strategies that might resonate:

• Start Small: Even a quick 5-minute sketch or word cluster can ease emotional tension and provide insight. One of my favourite activities is bilateral drawing, which is shared in the digital zine.
• Use Multiple Mediums: Don’t limit yourself to one art form; try combining writing with colour work or collage to understand different parts of your experience.
• Honour the Body: Include body mapping or gentle movement to connect with sensations and emotions. This can help develop a mind-body connection.
• Create Safe Spaces: Confidentiality and sensitivity are crucial; allow art-making to be a judgment-free zone tailored to individual backgrounds.
• Reflect Together: Encourage dialogue around the creations when appropriate, whether in therapy sessions or support groups. This can help deepen understanding and build community.

Creating Space for Diverse Voices and Perspectives

This digital zine project also highlights the importance of acknowledging gender diversity and experiences when addressing chronic illness. Endometriosis symptom manifestations and coping mechanisms are profoundly influenced by cultural background, access to healthcare, and other systemic barriers.

It also brings further awareness that endometriosis is not a uterine disease but a whole-body disease. For therapists, this means using a multi-dimensional approach that respects and integrates inclusive narratives rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all model.

Creativity as Connection

This expressive arts digital zine is a reminder that, while chronic illness can be isolating at times, it does not have to be silent. Using creative expression can transform pain into a story, confusing emotions into colourful images, and confusion into clarity and understanding.

If you’re living with endometriosis or walking alongside someone who is, I hope you find moments of peace, understanding, and empowerment in your own creative practice and in this zine. And if you’re a therapist, may these reflections inspire you to explore the boundless ways art can heal beyond words.