Page 24 - South Mississippi Living - June, 2026

ARTS
story by Lynn Lofton
Does the process of creating art have an impact on health? Several Coast residents answer with a resounding yes!
Karla McCarthy, licensed clinical social worker at Singing River Outpatient Behavioral Health Services in Pascagoula, says, “In fact, there is even research that suggests that art and creative activities can lower stress hormones, facilitate relaxation, and improve cognitive functioning over time.
“It can be very helpful in providing a mental break from daily stressors and challenges. Even a short period of creating art can help regulate the nervous system and leave people feeling more grounded.”
She continues by noting that having hobbies such as painting, drawing, crafting, or even playing and creating music can help people better process their emotions and improve their mood, leading to improved mental and physical health.
“Art is often used as an outlet in therapy and healing, especially because trauma and stress aren’t always stored in ways that are easy to talk about. More often, they are experienced through body sensations, emotions, and images rather than clear, verbal memories.”
Margaret Gambrell knows trauma first hand. Retiring at age 70, she started art classes at the Ohr O’Keefe Museum of Art and found it was her happy place.
“What really made me happiest was the close friends I made in art class. We called ourselves the Art Tribe,” she said. We enjoyed each other and made a few fun excursions together.”
But Gambrell didn’t make an excursion on May 16, 2025. “I woke up in the middle of the night paralyzed and lying on the floor,” she recalls. “Doctors determined that I had suffered a spinal stroke, a C4 Complete diagnosis.”
After intense therapies in Atlanta, Gambrell, now a quadriplegic, returned home. She was depressed to think she
24 | June 2026
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