I maintain a daily journal to beat anxiety and stress

Tis the title of a book written by scientists who study the healing powers of expressive writing — the kind of writing you would use a private journal for, where you describe your experiences and express your emotions. Of all mental health interventions, keeping a journal is one of my favourites. Not only because I personally love to write, but also because as simple as it may sound (sit down and write about your day), it combines several very powerful therapeutic elements.

Because we have to put things into words, writing promotes better awareness of our emotions. When we are searching for the right words to describe what’s on our mind, we are forced to explore the quality of our experiences and if we keep doing this day after day, we can begin to see patterns in our reactions and thoughts. This is also useful because it gives us a better understanding of ourselves, which is one of the essential ingredients of well-being and personal growth.

When we write about our emotions, we thereby express them and this in itself can have a therapeutic effect. Unexpressed or even suppressed emotions are toxic. Suppressing emotions prolongs recovery from traumatic events and negatively affects our physical health. However, some of the emotions we walk around with may feel so private that we can’t bring ourselves to share them with anyone. Writing in a private journal can then be the needed outlet.

When we write about our experiences and reactions, it also gives us a chance to reflect deeper upon what happened and sometimes see the events in a different light, not the way we saw them initially. Things become less black and white and, once it is all in front of us, we can also question some of that automatic negative self-talk.

Then there is the creativity and the satisfaction with your own artistic expression.

In the privacy of your own journal, you can do whatever you want — no one is reading it unless you choose to let them. You can say whatever you want however you want it. You find new ways of talking that you’ve never tried before. You find another voice. First, it may sound strange and unfamiliar, kind of like hearing yourself on tape. But then this voice becomes stronger and more confident until you come to realise that what you are hearing is in fact the voice of your authentic self.

You might wonder, “What should I write about?” Rest assured, once you sit down and start to write whatever comes to mind, the story will emerge.