Journaling can help people gain control of their emotions and improve their mental health, researchers said. Expressive writing can result in a reduction in stress, anxiety, and depression; improve our sleep and performance; and bring us greater focus and clarity. These effects of writing as a tool for healing are well documented, they added.
Table of Contents
How is writing used in therapy?
By writing, you put some structure and organization to those anxious feelings, he explains. It helps you to get past them. Other research by Pennebaker indicates that suppressing negative, trauma-related thoughts compromises immune functioning, and that those who write visit the doctor less often. It’s simply writing down your thoughts and feelings to understand them more clearly. And if you struggle with stress, depression, or anxiety, keeping a journal can be a great idea. It can help you gain control of your emotions and improve your mental health. Expressive writing can result in a reduction in stress, anxiety, and depression; improve our sleep and performance; and bring us greater focus and clarity. These effects of writing as a tool for healing are well documented. 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. It’s about how real people react to challenging situations and how they overcome strife. The technique closes the gap between the reader and your character’s point of view in a novel. This article will show you how to write trauma stories into your novel using this technique.
Is writing a good form of therapy?
In addition to the mental benefits, writing can even improve physical wellbeing. Research by Dr. Pennebaker and Joshua Smyth PhD., Syracuse University, suggests that writing about emotions and stress can boost immune functioning in patients with HIV/AIDS, asthma, and arthritis. Journaling evokes mindfulness and helps writers remain present while keeping perspective. It presents an opportunity for emotional catharsis and helps the brain regulate emotions. It provides a greater sense of confidence and self-identity. Writing to yourself is nothing new, but it is becoming a key expressive method with proven cathartic benefits for your psychological health. Catharsis is defined as ‘the process of reducing or eliminating a complex by recalling it to conscious awareness and allowing it to be expressed’ (Schultz and Schultz, 2004). Within psychodynamic therapy, written and spoken introspection is encouraged. Journaling outside of session can be recommended as a way for a therapist to encourage continued work between sessions. This kind of writing can be used to help a client develop increased self-awareness and identify spots for further growth.
Who created writing therapy?
In the late 1980s, James Pennebaker, psychology professor at the University of Texas at Austin, led the modern writing therapy movement in a landmark research study that showed the potential health benefits of “expressive writing” about emotional upheaval. Expressive writing can result in a reduction in stress, anxiety, and depression; improve our sleep and performance; and bring us greater focus and clarity. These effects of writing as a tool for healing are well documented. Journaling can heal you faster, both emotionally and physically. In a 2005 study on the emotional and physical health benefits of expressive writing, researchers found that just 15 to 20 minutes of writing three to five times over the course of the four-month study was enough to make a positive impact. 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. By writing, you put some structure and organization to those anxious feelings, he explains. It helps you to get past them. Other research by Pennebaker indicates that suppressing negative, trauma-related thoughts compromises immune functioning, and that those who write visit the doctor less often.
What is creative writing therapy?
What Is Writing Therapy? Writing therapy, or “expressive writing,” is a form of expressive therapy in which clients are encouraged to write about their thoughts and feelings—particularly those related to traumatic events or pressing concerns—to reap benefits such as reduced stress and improved physical health. 1. Writing therapy posits that writing one’s feelings gradually eases feelings of emotional trauma. Writing therapeutically can take place individually or in a group and it can be administered in person with a therapist or remotely through mailing or the Internet. If you’re feeling stressed, anxious, or down, try therapeutic journaling. While it’s not a total replacement for therapy, it is one tool that can help you to create meaning and feel better, or serve as a helpful addition to traditional talking therapies.
What is the most therapeutic quality of writing?
Expressive Writing -It is often used in therapeutic settings where people are asked to write about their thoughts and feeling related to any stress-causing event or situation. It’s simply writing down your thoughts and feelings to understand them more clearly. And if you struggle with stress, depression, or anxiety, keeping a journal can be a great idea. It can help you gain control of your emotions and improve your mental health. Writing to yourself is nothing new, but it is becoming a key expressive method with proven cathartic benefits for your psychological health. Catharsis is defined as ‘the process of reducing or eliminating a complex by recalling it to conscious awareness and allowing it to be expressed’ (Schultz and Schultz, 2004). Journaling is the act of keeping a record of your personal thoughts, feelings, insights, and more. It can be written, drawn, or typed. It can be on paper or on your computer. It’s a simple, low-cost way of improving your mental health.