Art is an extremely diverse form of expression. For many, art is just a way for them to express their creativity, but on the contrary, art can become a reliable outlet for mental health related problems.

Many artists even consider their art as a form of therapy and DHS freshman Neveen Haidar is one of those arts. Haidar is an independent artist who specializes in digital and pencil drawing but has had some experience with painting, theater, and even poetry. She has been doing paid commissions since Sept. 2021 through Discord and Instagram. Her Instagram handle is @art.by.pluto and can be contacted there.

Haidar said art has been a part of her life for as long as she could remember.

“I’ve always had a passion for art starting from a very young age,” Haidar said. “I grew up in a creative household and it just kind of came to me. I started with drawing stick people as anyone else would and my work developed quickly as I got older.”

Haidar said that the pandemic gave her some time to work on ways to express herself.

“During the pandemic I had a lot more time to focus on my art-work and really find my own unique art style,” Haidar said. “Art helped me a lot with my anxiety during the pandemic as well. Since I spent a lot more time online during quarantine, I was encouraged to start selling my art online.”

Haidar said art has many benefits for her mental health.

“My art is therapy for me really. I was diagnosed with Tourette’s Syndrome and Panic disorder growing up so it’s always been difficult for me,” Haidar said. “Art kind of freed me from what was weighing me down. Art was an escape from my anxiety and it said what I really couldn’t.”

Tourette’s syndrome is a chronic incurable disorder that initiates unintentional sounds or movements similar to spasms. These jerks or sounds can often cause people with TS to struggle with everyday things like going to school, cooking, working, etc.

Haidar said each art form allows you to deliver your emotions in different ways.

“When working with pencils you spill out every part of yourself onto that paper as you’re feeling it, same goes for poetry,” Haidar said. “Self-expression is really such an important segment of artworks no matter the method.”

Haidar said she recommends picking up art to anyone that desires a way to illustrate their feelings in a deeper way.

“Our hands say what our mouths can’t. The things we can’t put into sentences can in turn be put in front of our eyes,” Haidar said. “Everyone has their own unique story and message and I think that the arts can really help portray that.”

Haidar plans on implementing art into her future. She hopes to continue selling commissions and go from there. She is also currently in the Art & Photography club and a sculpture art class.