What I learned by throwing plates and empty bottles in Manitowoc's new 'smash room.'
MANITOWOC – When I told friends and family I planned to experience a “smash room” for a work story, they either had no idea what I was talking about or they wanted to join in.
“Smash rooms,” or “rage rooms,” are popping up across the U.S., providing space for people to express anger by destroying lamps, old computer monitors, glassware or pottery with bats, sticks, golf clubs and sledgehammers.
That’s the idea behind CRusched Smash & Art Studio, 115 N. 10th St. CRusched — the first of its kind in Manitowoc — opened last year. Owners Cliff and Christma Rusch, who are both in long-term recovery from substance use disorders, said they hope the public smash room can help reduce the stigma associated with mental health issues.
Christma, the founder of Lighthouse Recovery Community Center, said smash rooms aren’t a replacement for therapy or counseling, but can provide a safe space for people to work out some anger. There’s also a paint splash room where participants can spray each other with neon-colored paint, allowing them to live in the moment in a playful way.
I’ve never considered myself a violent or especially angry person, so I was actually a bit anxious about giving CRusched a go. I’m a creative who likes to make things rather than destroy them.
But I arrived at the studio with an open mind. Christma asked me to sign a waiver. Then, I dressed in a protective suit, head and eye gear, and gloves.
The smash room is a smallish room painted neon green. Christma first asked me to choose my tool for smashing among a metal baseball bat, golf club, wooden stick and more. I chose the bat.
Since I have little hand/eye coordination, I chose to mostly throw the old beer bottles, and plates against a wooden backboard. Throw hard, or they won’t break and will bounce back.
SS Badger season begins: SS Badger is ‘back, better and stronger.’ What to know about the car ferry's first sail and 2024 sailing season on Lake Michigan.
The bat worked well for smashing items on the cement floor.
I started with a few bottles. After the first few throws, you develop a rhythm. I can see how great it would feel if I had an especially deep frustration I needed to get out.
Lifting the heavy sledgehammer, I broke an ugly Army-green ceramic pickle tray. Crack, crack, smash. That was fun — and a bit of a workout.
Participants receive a milk crate of breakable items when they get started. You can pay extra for computer monitors, keyboards and larger pieces of furniture. The items are donated from St. Vincent DePaul, mostly — items given to the thrift shop that won’t sell.
I’d like to come back some time with my Little Sister (we are part of Big Brothers Big Sisters). The experience would be enhanced by smashing things with other people. And I think she’d laugh and have a good time while getting out some stress, too.
“Recovery in general is defined as regaining things once lost,” Christma said. “That’s why we encourage people to travel back in time and be a kid again.”
She told me about two middle-aged sisters who had a blast covering each other with paint in the splash room.
“Rage rooms” can be a way to help remove the stigma around mental health issues, Christma told me. And that’s also the point behind May as Mental Health Awareness Month.
Trying The Spices restaurant: Savor Manitowoc reporters try tikka masala, korma and samosas at The Spices restaurant in Manitowoc
Prevalence of mental health issues for adults in the U.S. might be higher than you think. According to Lifespan, an organization aiming to connect providers and those who need help:
48 million U.S. adults have an anxiety disorder;
21 million have major depression;
9 million have post-traumatic stress disorder;
7 million have bipolar disorder;
3.5 million have borderline personality disorder;
3 million have obsessive compulsive disorder; and
1.5 million have schizophrenia.
Neither I nor Christma is saying a “rage room” can stand in for ongoing therapy or other treatments for serious mental health or substance use problems. But as a way to work out a little anxiety or anger, I say give it a try. It helped make me a bit less timid about hitting things with a bat and causing destruction, at the very least. I’d liken it to screaming into a pillow when you are especially frustrated. And there’s nothing wrong with that.
"Patti Goes ..." is a regular series by reporter Patti Zarling in which she goes and tries out experiences that can only be had in Manitowoc County. Where should she go next? Contact her at pzarling@gannett.com or call 920-606-2575. Follow her on X @PGPattiZarling and on Instagram @PGPatti.
This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Manitowoc smash room: What's it like? Therapy, fun, a bit of a workout
