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Is journaling good for anxiety?
Can journaling help with anxiety? The answer is yes. A 2018 research study found that people who journaled had a reduction in symptoms of depression and anxiety. That’s because the process of writing can release pent-up feelings and negative thoughts, which helps to quiet the mind. Journaling helps keep your brain in tip-top shape. Not only does it boost memory and comprehension, it also increases working memory capacity, which may reflect improved cognitive processing. Journaling also helps people hone their focus so that they think about only one thing at a time. When you write your thoughts by hand, you can only write one word at a time. Your thoughts slow down to match your writing speed and you’ll find that it’s easier to slip out of your overthinking mindset. Therapeutic journaling is the process of writing down our thoughts and feelings about our personal experiences. This kind of private reflection allows us to sort through events that have occurred and problems that we may be struggling with. Sometimes keeping a journal of your thoughts, feelings, and experiences helps, but often it makes things worse. In general, it is likely to hurt if it tries to help you “know yourself” in isolation and helps if it leads to greater understanding and behavior change in your interactions with others.
Do therapists recommend journaling?
Journaling is one self-care method counselors can recommend to their clients. Clients can use this tool on their own and incorporate these entries into a therapy session. Counselors refer to journaling in therapy as writing therapy, journal therapy or expressive art therapy. Writing, like anything, improves with practice. When you journal every day, you’re practicing the art of writing. And if you use a journal to express your thoughts and ideas, it’ll help improve your overall communication skills. Journaling may boost health and well-being A 2018 research review suggests that writing about your deepest thoughts and feelings may contribute to: fewer stress-related doctor visits. lower blood pressure. improved mood. You have a hard time concentrating on writing Another reason journaling doesn’t work for you could be that you have a hard time focusing or concentrating on the writing. Feeling spacey, having jumbled thoughts, or being in a rush could prohibit you from having a solid journaling experience. Recap: 6 Journaling Ideas Journal three things you’re grateful for every day. Journal your problems. Journal your stresses. Journal your answer to “What’s the best thing that happened today?” every night before bed.
How do I organize my anxiety thoughts?
Journaling is an essential “brain dump” – a way to release what’s on your mind so you don’t have to carry it around with you all the time. Putting it all down on paper helps you process, sort, clarify, and organize your thoughts and feelings. You can read more about the mental health benefits of journaling here. Studies show it’s better to journal at night because it gives you an outlet for emotions and thoughts that might otherwise keep you awake. Even though there is sound scientific research to support the idea that journaling at night is better, many people prefer to journal in the morning. The results suggest that keeping a journal led to more optimism and gratitude, both of which can boost well-being. A 2018 study suggests that writing about positive experiences for just 15 minutes a day three times a week may help ease feelings of anxiety and stress and boost resilience.