APPLYING COLOR THERAPY TO YOUR WARDROBE
Article by: https://www.arkbh.com
The grand halls of the Asclepion, dedicated to the Grecian god of healing, were the beginnings of the Hippocratic oath and Western medicine. All aspects of healthcare were taken into consideration: biological, sociological, and psychological. Among the treatment options, light therapy (phototherapy) and color therapy (chromotherapy) were combined to bring balance back to the mind, body, and spirit.
COLOR … THERAPY?
Research shows that color affects mood, and color is sometimes used in therapy and holistic medicine as a tool to assist the healing process. Therapists and other practitioners often accomplish this through paint color selections, lighting, art, and other aesthetic choices for their treatment spaces.
WHAT IS COLOR THERAPY USED FOR?
When it comes to mental health, color therapy may be used to help alleviate symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress; to help people make behavioral changes, and even to treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Color therapy is one of the many types of therapy tools that can help people feel their best when approaching life’s challenges.
THE SCIENCE BEHIND COLOR THERAPY
Different colors emit different frequencies, and chromotherapy suggests that these frequencies, as well as your perception and beliefs about them, can influence your mental and physical well-being, your behavior, and possibly affect the behavior of the people around you.
Though studies are limited to the exact reach of chromotherapy, we have gained some insights from recent research. For example, one study showed that wearing green glasses could reduce anxiety and reliance on opioid medications in some people with fibromyalgia pain.
In a study of the color blue, the color was shown to reduce stress and boost alertness. Another study, conducted in Japan, showed an 84% decrease in suicides over 10 years when blue lights were installed at the train station. Because of this, blue lighting has begun to show up in subway stations around the world.
This being said, like many holistic methods, color therapy is best used as a tool alongside treatment, and not as a replacement for treatment.
COLORS AND YOUR WARDROBE
If you are looking for a boost of confidence for that big presentation, or an eye-catching outfit for a first date, consider the colors you’ll be wearing.
Black: Black is a classic choice. Favorite black jacket, anyone? This color exudes sophistication, while also giving an impression of personal boundaries, coolness, or toughness—a contrast to more inviting colors like blue, orange, or yellow. It also serves as a perfect background for accent colors.
Attributes: Independence, protection, mystery, invisibility, strength
White: White reflects all of the colors on the spectrum and is a classic color option, a canvas from which one can work. Similar to black, it can be used to accentuate other colors.
Attributes: Purity, hope, peace, clarity, spirituality
Gray: Gray may at times be considered lifeless and dull, but gray was a favorite color in homes in both 2022 and 2023 for its calming effects. It can add a gentleness and air of formality to an outfit. This color is very multifaceted, as it can be paired with black, white, and pastel colors, like pink or lavender.
Attributes: Calming, cloaking, stability, seriousness, protection.
Silver: Silver is a color that catches the eye. The color is often associated with science fiction, but it is also filled with spiritual significance in many cultures and has long been a historical symbol of status and wealth. Silver in many spiritual paths represents the heavens, stars, water, the moon, emotions, and the inner world.
Attributes: Calm, empathy, wisdom, focus, spirituality.
Red: Red clothing or jewelry can make you stand out from the crowd. Think of a red jacket against a black shirt or an all-red dress. Red is an arousing color that motivates, brings courage, and inspires strength and leadership.
Attributes: Life, power, attraction, ambition, luck
Pink: Pink is a more muted form of red, and in brighter hues can be fun, flirty, energizing, and eye-catching. In its gentler shades, it can be calming, playful, and cute. Pink is often reminiscent of love and compassion.
Attributes: Calming, cheerful, inclusive, soft, gentle
Orange: Orange on the walls of a house can create an uplifting and creative atmosphere, and can do the same with an outfit. Despite what you may think, orange goes well with many different colors,
Attributes: Creativity, abundance, confidence, cheerfulness, pride including black, white, red, yellow, brown, pink, and its opposite, blue.
Yellow: Though some people can find this color too stimulating, yellow is reminiscent of the sun and blazing summer days. This uplifting color is a cheery addition to any wardrobe.
Attributes: Communication, self-esteem, the mind, uplifting, sunny
Gold: Along with silver, gold has often been one of the metals used for exchange historically. Because of this, it signifies wealth. Gold also represents the sun, the heavens, royalty, and power. Humans have long been enamored with this color.
Attributes: Prosperity, perfection, healing, uplifting, intellect
Green: Many studies have been conducted on the effects of the color green. Natural surroundings often contain a great deal of green, which can be calming to the eye.
Attributes: The earth, prosperity, harmony, luck, health
Blue: Blue is considered one of the best colors to wear to an interview. It is a color that has been considered to embody trustworthiness, stability, and peace.
Attributes: Calming, trustworthiness, wisdom, loyalty, communication.
Purple: In addition to being a very popular color highlighted in the poem “Warning” by Jenny Joseph, purple has an extensive history. From royalty to wizard robes, it has often represented status, enlightenment, and wisdom.
Attributes: Spiritual insight, abundance, authority, imagination
There are many ways to utilize color in your wardrobe to exude confidence, improve your mood, or create a sense of calmness. The colors we choose can be a fun way to express ourselves and connect with others.