This Popular Pastime Healed One Woman’s Crippling Grief and Anxiety
Heart-shattering losses left Carol Ann Ferrari-Rogers overwhelmed by grief and anxiety, until she rediscovered a childho
Heart-shattering losses left Carol Ann Ferrari-Rogers overwhelmed by grief and anxiety, until she rediscovered a childhood hobby that restored a deep sense of calm and peace to her life.
Carol Ann Ferrari-Rogers had never felt such despair. A few years following her painful divorce, her daughter Michelle was in a car accident and passed away at age 18.
Devastated, Carol became overwhelmed by crippling anxiety and stress. She suffered panic attacks, loss of appetite and felt so weak she feared she could collapse at any moment. All the stress also compromised her immune system, causing her to catch every cold and passing virus. Her doctor offered to write her a prescription for her anxiety, but Carol declined.
At her doctor’s urging, Carol promised she’d think about some ways to manage her anxiety, and on her way home it hit her: I know exactly what I need — my sewing machine!
Crafting helps your mental health.
Carol had started sewing when she was eight years old and fell in love with the craft. Not only was she good at it, but she found sewing to be a calming outlet growing up in a busy family of six. Her hobby went on to help her cope during a bad marriage. Carol would retreat to her sewing room where she was able to catch her breath and relax as she created bright, colorful quilts.
Once divorced, Carol continued to quilt whenever she could find time while raising her two daughters. Recalling how happy and at peace she always felt sitting at her sewing machine, Carol decided it was where she needed to be.
Carol soon made quilting a regular part of her daily routine. And just as in the past, she found as she focused on her projects, she would stop dwelling on her emotional pain. Her mind and spirit calmed. Soon, her panic attacks eased. She regained her appetite — for food and for life.
Quilting for a cause.
Intrigued by the results, Carol did some reading about the benefits of crafting and learned that handwork, such as quilting, increases dopamine in the brain, which leads to feelings of joy and optimism.
With each quilt she made, Carol’s mood brightened, her stress eased and she became more hopeful. When she returned for a checkup several months later, her doctor was pleasantly surprised by her progress and agreed that no medication was necessary.
Carol continued quilting, and today the Coral Springs, Florida, 64-year-old has her own quilt company (CozinessQuilts.com) and runs two quilting groups on Facebook. She’s also the president of her local quilt guild, all giving her a deep sense of satisfaction and purpose. And while she will always miss Michelle greatly, Carol feels stronger than ever, both emotionally and physically, enabling her to once again truly enjoy life with her family.
“While quilting, I am in my meditative, happy place,” Carol says. “I’m able to see my life more clearly — to focus on all that is good.”
Working with your hands helps to heal.
“When you use your hands meaningfully — by sewing, knitting or sculpting — you stimulate 60 percent of the neurons in the largest part of your brain, which releases dopamine, a hormone that helps you feel instantly calm and happy,” says Alton Barron, MD, co-author of The Creativity Cure (Buy from Amazon, $13.99). Plus, engaging these neurons lowers levels of cortisol to tamp down anxiety.
While creative projects like needlepoint and crocheting actively engage your hands for a boost in joy, Dr. Barron says other meaningful tasks — like tending to a garden or cooking — have the same effect. “Find any hobby that brings you pleasure. It can be something that you enjoyed as a child or reminds you of a loved one.”
A version of this article originally appeared in our print magazine, Woman’s World.
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