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Is journaling a good coping mechanism?
Journaling happens to be one of the most therapist/counselor recommended, simplest and effective coping mechanisms for managing mental illness. Bullet journals, however, might be the perfect solution for people with ADHD, who often don’t have the patience to use traditional journals. Recap: 6 Journaling Ideas Write down your goals every day. Keep a daily log. Journal three things you’re grateful for every day. Journal your problems. Journaling Prompts for Managing Stress or Anxiety I feel stress in ________________ part of my body. It feels like… My anxiety may be trying to tell me… The evidence that my anxious thoughts are true is… /The evidence that my anxious thoughts are false is… Journaling boosts my creativity. Writing without a censor frees me from overthinking and limiting my imagination. It helps my brain make connections it might not otherwise. Most importantly for ADHD, it allows me to capture my great ideas before I forget them two minutes later. Mood journaling is the act of logging your mood so you can recognize trends, triggers, and use of your energy. You can mood journal just by logging how or what you felt. Or you can go more in-depth by naming your emotion and identifying what caused it, what resulted from it, and whether it was contextually appropriate.
Does journaling help with trauma?
The expressive writing protocol consists of asking someone to write about a stressful, traumatic or emotional experience for three to five sessions, over four consecutive days, for 15-20 minutes per session. Research has found it to be useful as a stand-alone tool or as an adjunct to traditional psychotherapies. While some can write for hours at a time, researchers say that journaling for at least 15 minutes a day three to five times a week can significantly improve your physical and mental health. “An emotion journal allows you to record your feelings over several days or weeks and then notice patterns or trends,” Ruiz says. When you can recognize these trends, you can work to eliminate or avoid certain triggers — or focus your energy on how best to respond next time. Deep breathing can help calm your body’s stress response when you encounter a triggering situation. Expressive writing can help you process the feelings, thoughts, emotions, and memories that contribute to PTSD symptoms. Grounding techniques can keep you focused on the present moment instead of on your triggers.