Major publishers like Hachette have recently released adult coloring books in France. Even luxury brands like Hermès and Yves Saint Laurent have put out high-end books of intricate black-and-white designs. Fans say coloring helps them relax and de-stress. And there’s some research to back up the practice. A 2012 study in the journal Art Therapy (where else?) found adults who colored intricate forms like Hindu mandalas enjoyed a big drop in anxiety compared to those who did not color or who colored on blank sheets of paper. “Coloring of a reasonably complex geometric pattern may induce a meditative state that benefits individuals suffering from anxiety,” the Art Therapy authors say. Before you laugh, keep in mind that yoga, acupuncture, and plenty of other strange-seeming foreign practices eventually caught on in the U.S. MORE: 5 Weird Things Stress Is Doing To Your Body Here are 6 more whacky—but seemingly effective—mental health therapies from around the country and globe: Communal Crying In Japan, a practice called rui-katsu—or “tear seeking”—has recently gained popularity. People gather in theaters or presentation spaces and watch sentimental videos intended to make everyone weepy. Crying with others supposedly helps clear the mind and reduce stress, according to those who support the practice. While it hasn’t been studied much recently, crying may combat stress and anxiety in ways similar to laughing, finds a 1987 study from the journal Behavioral Medicine. MORE: Are You Just Stressed…Or Is It An Anxiety Disorder? Soothing Sensations Worldwide, but especially in the Netherlands, people are talking about the insomnia-fighting benefits of ASMR, or “autonomous sensory meridian response.” Imagine fingertips softly brushing the cover of a book, or water being slowly poured into a glass. By combining gentle forms of audio and visual stimuli to give you a tingling sensation, videos featuring ASMR practitioners—sometimes called “artists” or “whisperers”—have amassed thousands of viewers. Some early research from Swansea University in the UK indicates ASMR may actually provide some calming benefits. A Good Tickle You’ve heard that laughter is the best medicine. But a good tickle may also cure what ails you. A Japanese study team found tickling rats—yes, you can tickle a rat—helped the rodents overcome fear and anxiety related to past memories of electric shock. Like laughter, being tickled may lower your body’s levels of some stress hormones, the authors say. MORE: Do This 10-Second Math Problem And You’ll Never Procrastinate Again Climb A Tree You loved it when you were a kid. And some more Japanese research shows climbing a tree—as opposed to some man-made object like a tower—increases feelings of relaxation, and also lowers tension and fatigue. In both Georgia and Colorado, groups have organized recreational tree climbing as a fun, therapeutic escape from adult life. Dry Skin Brushing This one has recently gained some popularity in the U.S., though there’s still little-to-no research backing it up. The idea is that, by brushing your skin every day with a soft-bristle brush, you can increase blood flow, help your body remove toxins, and increase feelings of calmness. (Is a cluttered house what’s making you anxious? Learn how to clean up and drop weight in the process with Cut The Clutter, Drop The Pounds.) Mood MusicJournal of Consumer Research If you’re struggling with sadness or depression, listening to somber or melancholy music can improve your mood. Several studies have shown woeful beats provide a spiritual balm when you’re feeling bummed. It’s possible hearing the sad song when you’re down makes you feel understood and empathized with in a way similar to group therapy, suggests a study from the .
