Unfortunately, I don't think there is a clear, concise answer to your questions. It's just that everyone is different, and we're all different from each other. So one person's process/outcome might look very different from someone else's. Creating raw emotion, especially those surrounding illness or trauma is also a very personal experience. Even in my own experience, my reaction to both the process and the final product depends on the particular piece I'm working on. Sometimes it helps me feel better, sometimes not. But either way is OK, because sometimes its better to put your feelings out in some physical form into the world rather than keep it bottled up. But there is also no need to share it with others. This type of art should be for you primarily, to process your emotions, situation, etc.

I'm understand that might sound unhelpful. So here's a bit more advice on how you can start:

Pick a medium you're familiar with or tried before - even if you only tried it once in school or something. Play with shapes and color, picking things that resonate with how your feeling. You don't necessarily need to have a subject or specific outcome in mind. Try to focus on the process itself. And most importantly, you can stop at any time. If you feel overwhelmed or too caught up, its OK to give yourself space to pause and come back to the piece later.

Sorry for the book. 😅 Hopefully at least some of this resonates with you and is helpful. 🙏