Do you suffer from stress, anxiety, depression, trauma or insomnia? If so, you are not alone. Millions of people around the world struggle with these conditions on a daily basis. Fortunately, there are many techniques that can help manage the symptoms.
One of the ways to deal with any overwhelming emotion is to find a healthy way to express yourself. This makes writing a helpful tool in managing your mental health.
WRITING BENEFITS
Writing exercise can help you:
- Manage anxiety
- Reduce stress
- Cope with depression
Writing helps control your symptoms and improve your mood by:
- Helping you prioritize problems, fears, and concerns
- Tracking any symptoms day-to-day so that you can recognize triggers and learn ways to better control them
- Providing an opportunity for positive self-talk and identifying negative thoughts and behaviors
Try these simple tips to help you get started with writing:
- If something is troubling you, then write it down on a piece of paper.
- Ask yourself what you can do to possibly solve the situation and write down a possible solution.
- If you do not know what to do about the situation, ask yourself “Who can I talk to about this?”
- Write down the name (s) of who you might talk to. If you can talk to the person immediately then do so. If not, jot down when you can reach out to the person and then do so.
- Also write down what the opposite of your concern looks like. Like if you’re worried about a relationship issue, write down what the best outcome would feel and look like.
Another good set of guidelines on effective journaling can be found here: Center for Journal Therapy
The next time you find yourself stressing out, or caught in a negative thought spiral, remember to take a step back and focus on the solution. Write down what you can do to address the problem at hand, and then put your attention there. You may find that it’s significantly easier to stay positive when you have a plan of action.
For further information on how you can manage with symptoms from stress, anxiety, depression and trauma, please contact me at info@beverlybrashen.com or call at 425-417-9727.