Fighting Anxiety with Fashion
I’m not sure how it started, but one day I realized that playing in my closet - styling outfits, mixing and matching shirts and bottoms, figuring out how to wear a summer dress in winter — was a creative outlet for me.
And I discovered that this creativity was a welcome distraction from managing my anxiety disorder.
Through this experiment, I stumbled upon the “trend” of dopamine dressing.
They say it’s a trend; I say it’s a tool for anxiety.
When I’m styling an outfit and looking through my closet, I become laser focused. I see the clothes in front of me and pull out hangers of items I think might work together. Sometimes they do; other times, they don’t. Both are okay. (This is a great practice to help with letting go of perfectionism.)
After playing in my closet for a bit, I realized that the static and noise in my head was softer. And that’s when I realized that getting dressed was a tool in managing Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
It gives me a sense of control.
Styling outfits isn’t just about looking put together — it’s also a way to regulate my nervous system. When life feels crazy (which it often does), playing in my closet gives me something tangible to control.
Anxiety loves the unknown, and we can’t control much of what happens in life. But I can control what I wear, and making the small decisions surrounding that help me focus on the present moment and makes me feel in control of at least one aspect of my day.
It’s a creative outlet.
Creativity is so helpful in managing mental health. It provides a safe place to express oneself, and it can serve as a healthy distraction. And while picking out an outfit for the day may not seem as creative as writing a song or choreographing a dance, it is a way of expressing oneself.
When I’m in my closet, my focus is on the clothes in front of me. It involves multiple senses — sight, touch — which can be helpful in staying present.
It’s play time.
There’s a reason young kids like to play dress up — it transports them into a different world. It’s make believe. It’s imagination. It’s an escape from reality. When I have time to create outfits, it can often feel like playing dress up, and it’s also a way to heal part of my inner child.
It fills me with confidence.
Those three elements — having a sense of control, creative outlet, and time to play and heal my inner child — help build confidence. I’m so familiar with the contents of my closet (and I’ve curated a collection of items I truly love), so I know that just about anything I put on my body will look good. Having that knowledge eliminates the stress of getting dressed and it helps me feel confident as I head into my day.
Color Psychology
There isn’t any specific research proving that dopamine dressing is a tool in managing anxiety, but there is science that indicates there is a connection between color and mood. (I’m looking at you, color psychology!)
Ever notice the colors associated with fast food restaurants? They’re usually red and yellow, because those colors stimulate hunger and elicit excitement.
Our clothes can do the same thing (well, maybe not stimulate hunger…) — but they can impact our thoughts and feelings — and therefore have a subtle but impactful effect on our mood and the mood of those around us.
The “Science”
Dopamine is often referred to as the “feel-good” chemical, because it helps reinforce behaviors that the brain sees as positive or rewarding. It plays a big role in how we feel pleasure, motivation and reward.
You know that burst of happiness you feel when you check something off your to-do list or receive a genuine compliment? That’s dopamine doing its job!
Ok, but what do this have to do with getting dressed?
When we wear colors, textures or outfits that make us feel comfortable and confident, it activates the brain’s reward system and gives us a hit of dopamine. That is the foundation of dopamine dressing — making a conscience decision to choose clothes that bring us joy or give us energy. This small decision at the start of the day can shift the tone of your entire day!
More than just color!
A common misconception, though, is that dopamine dressing is just about wearing bright, bold colors. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. I’ll fill you in on other ways to dress for happiness in an upcoming post!
What a great read on why it all matters! And is not vain or frivolous.