Journaling usually involves the art of retaining a journal or a diary that records your feelings and thoughts about the events happening in your life.
One particular way of managing stress and anxiety is writing detailed thoughts and feelings linked with traumatic events, then brainstorm solutions.
Benefits of Journaling
Journaling clarifies your thoughts and feelings, which later improves self-knowledge. It is similar to a problem-solving tool since it is easy to resolve a problem with a better solution when written on paper.
Journaling about traumatic incidents assists in exploring and freeing the negative emotions involved.
Research also proves that journaling has several health benefits, such as:
- Decreasing arthritis and asthmatic symptoms, including other health issues.
- Strengthening the immune system.
- Enhancing cognitive functioning.
- Counteracting many adverse, stressful effects.
Journaling Drawbacks
- People with learning disabilities may have challenges that involve writing.
- Journaling focused on your negative feelings without including plans, or careful thoughts may intensify stress. The simplest way to stabilize increased stress is to ensure you finish your journaling sessions with ideas you value in your life or hopeful things and find possible solutions to your problems.
Applicable Strategies
A few practices to try if you especially new to journaling to see what will work best for you include:
- Gratitude Journal
It includes a daily gratitude journal that lists three or more aspects that you find grateful daily. This approach is highly effective since it focuses on your life resources and creates a more optimistic mood.
An advantage of this journal is that you keep records of different pleasant things that have occurred during your days. Therefore, if you feel stressed or anxious in the future, you can remind yourself of the things you appreciate most.
- Emotional Release
One way of dealing with stress is to write about your emotional responses to occasions that took place throughout the day. Such an action can help you to process your feelings and possibly even look for alternative solutions.
Writing about your significant events, maximizes, and values your optimistic feelings and the great things that have happened during the day. It is also an excellent way to reduce negative emotions, which is a significant aspect of managing anxiety and stress.
- Personal Planning Journal
Some people have journals to help them know their goals, what to do every day, and remember unforgettable events. Since writing can organize your mind and remind you of important things, such actions can alleviate stress and anxiety. Proper planning and balancing your activities is an excellent way of relieving stress.
Final thoughts from the Recover
Some journals are available for sale, with some of comprising of written prompts and integrated dates. Just remember that a journal doesn’t have to appear fancy.
With time, you will realize journaling helps reduce your stress and anxiety. However, if you still find difficulties with these mental conditions, seek professional help.
You can obtain the best help from rehab centers near you, which have professional therapists who can provide you with effective journaling. They will also assist you with alternative solutions to manage stress and anxiety that work better and address your needs.
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