Expressive Writing

Okay, so it's no secret that I love writing. (hence the blog) For me, writing is a way to escape the chaos and stress in my personal life. We all know that life can give us a lot, sometimes it feels like more than we can handle. But according to a social psychologist by the name of James Pennebaker, writing or expressive writing, as it is called, has been shown to change the pattern of negative thinking, allows for personal, authentic, and healthy expression of feelings/emotions, decrease emotional trauma, and even decrease the viral load for individuals who suffer from HIV/AIDS. Think about all those benefits! A lot of times, we can all become so focused on only what it going wrong/bad in our lives. Sure, I know life demands a lot. We do need to vent and process or sort things out, but it has to be done in a healthy way. Sitting in a corner of the room, and ruminating about everything that needs to get better, actually only makes things worse. Maybe start to turn to a journal or diary. It's one safe place to confide in without worrying about someone sharing confidential information.

Expressive writing works best if you find a quiet, calm place where there are no distractions. Then write about how you are feeling, what is going on in your life, concerns, etc. for about 15 minutes. It may seem like way too much time, but use each second. And if you run out of things to write about, just start writing what you've already written again until 15 minutes are up. Just don't stop writing! Expressive writing also works best if you journal or write consistently (at least 4 times a week). For me, I write every day because I've realized I feel more relaxed and generally happier. You could also write about what you are thankful for. Gratitude helps us realize that maybe, just maybe things aren't so bad as we originally made them up to be. Yeah, maybe you're stressed, bot a huge paper or exam, got a huge interview or presentation. There's a job or money or grades at risk but maybe by thinking of all the things that are going well in your life, will help decrease anxiety.

I hope this information helps you feel more at ease. There's nothing fun about living with anxiety, negativity and or depression. It hurts, I know. I have to always remind myself to always think positively. I know I often need to be told over and over and over again, that my life isn't really bad. No matter how many things seem like they're falling apart, there's always something to be thankful for. Life is full of many things to appreciate. Even if they're just small things. At least it's a start to living a more positive lifestyle.

In case ya'll wanted to take a closer look at James Pennebaker and his research with expressive writing, Here's a link to an article from University of Texas at Austin: https://www.utexas.edu/features/2005/writing/