Knitting and crocheting have been shown to provide mental and physical health benefits by reducing dementia risk by 40%, treating chronic pain, addiction, and mental illnesses like depression and OCD. The repetitive motion, feeling of success, and acceptance of mistakes involved in knitting help control symptoms. Joining a knitting group can provide social support and distraction from addiction or illness. Knitting is therapeutic for both men and women.

1. Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29454428@N08/4658734719/">State Library of New South Wales collection</a> via <a href="http://compfight.com">Compfight</a> <a href="http://
www.flickr.com/commons/usage/">cc</a>
men and
women
have
knitted
through
history
• According to Carolyn Bucior, men and women worldwide have been knitting for at least 1800 years of recorded history.

2. Knitting reduces dementia cases by 40%
Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21109902@N00/3091619333/">Anne-Miek Bibbe</a> via <a href="http://compfight.com">Compfight</a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/help/general/
#147">cc</a>
• Mental activity and social engagement, both found in knitting groups, has been shown to make people 40% LESS likely to experience dementia,
according to Dr. Valenzuela and others.

3. Knitting: Good for Body and Mind
Original
Knitted
Remote
Control
Holder
• Knitting is therapeutic for your body and mind

4. Original Afghan
expandYour horizons - heal your mind
You can improve your health and mind if you learn these skills

5. Original
hat
Knitting and crocheting for years
!
I’ve been knitting and crocheting for over 25 years

6. Knitting
Clubs
are
Everywhere
Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45940879@N04/6325899191/">Kalexanderson</a> via <a href="http://compfight.com">Compfight</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/
by-nc-sa/2.0/">cc</a>
• You can join a knitting club wherever you live

7. Chronic Pain - treated
Addiction - treated
Mental illness - treated
cable dress - modified design
• Knitting and crocheting can treat chronic pain, addiction, and mental illness

8. Knitting treats
chronic Pain
Reversible Pattern I knit
• Knitting and crocheting has proved useful in treating chronic pain

9. Knitting controls
pain perception
Another
Remote
Control
Holder
• Knitting in particular has been shown to change the perception of pain, allowing knitters to control their chronic pain.

10. Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35213698@N08/9558242950/">Dave Toussaint (www.photographersnature.com)</a> via <a href="http://compfight.com">Compfight</a> <a
href="http://www.flickr.com/help/general/#147">cc</a>
knitting creates
a Healing,
meditative
environment
• Knitting also creates a meditative state of mind, a technique that is otherwise very difficult to master, allowing more control of pain and healing

11. Knitting Treats
Mental illness
Reversible knitting pattern
!
Knitting has proved useful in the treatment of major mental illnesses like schizophrenia and OCD.

12. Repetitive
motion
success
acceptance
of mistakes
Brioche Hat
• Repetitive motion, the feeling of success, and the acceptance of mistakes helps control depression, bipolar, and OCD

13. physicality
rhythm
patterns
original afghan
• The contact with physical items, the calming rhythm, and the repetitive patterns treat panic disorders and bipolar disorders

14. Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22509585@N03/2609356317/">like_shipwrecks</a> via <a href="http://compfight.com">Compfight</a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/help/general/#147">cc</a>
knitting can help
you quit smoking
• Knitting can help treat smoking and other addictions

15. Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/62472560@N00/5638484385/">Daniela Vladimirova</a>
via <a href="http://compfight.com">Compfight</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">cc</a>
distraction
from
addiction
• The knitting provides a distraction for the addict, giving them something else to do with their hands

16. Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35076119@N04/4113553510/">Rebecca Nicole Montana</a>
via <a href="http://compfight.com">Compfight</a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/help/general/#147">cc</a>
knitting
produces
endorphins
• Knitting and crocheting produces endorphins, which have a calming effect on the mind and body, which can replace the need for addictions.

17. Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50658935@N00/6389541647/">sifis</a> via <a href="http://compfight.com">Compfight</a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/help/general/#147">cc</a>
Join A
knitting
Group
• The best thing to do is to join a knitting group or start one. Knitting groups are found in nursing homes, yarn stores, libraries, and hospitals.

18. knitting is
therapeutic
for men
and women
Original Handbag,
Finnish traditional patterns
• Knitting is therapeutic for men and women. In fact, until the 19th century, it was expected of men to knit worldwide. Crochet, however, was
considered a “woman’s craft” and women were expected not to knit.

19. You
Can
Do
IT!
original
leg warmer
• As long as you can knit or crochet, you already have the tools to change your life at your disposal already

20. You can learn to
knit in many placesoriginal
laundry bag
• If you want to learn how to knit, you can find instruction at yarn stores, knitting groups, YouTube and the Internet, as well as modern magazines like
Vogue and Knitting Monthly.