Daily Journaling Is Healthy

[bobby1933]

James Pennebaker, a nationally known American social psychologist, has done extensive research on journaling as a route to healing. According to his book “Writing to Heal,” his research has shown that short-term focused writing can have a beneficial effect on everyone: from those dealing with a terminal illness to victims of violent crime, to

Comments

[fluffyblanket]

I can endorse that.I was extremely depressed when my PC was down , as I live alone.My kind neighbour,Ana, in the adjacent apartment, found that it wasn't plugged in.Without her help and care I'd go insane...

[bobby1933]

I understand. LJ is also my second most important connection to the "world." My grandson has been my "Ana" but he is in university now, moving toward adulthood and possibly Japan so i must acquire more computer skills, if i can.

[amaebi]

I had a long-known acquaintance who wrote a great deal about her emotions, and her emotions alone-- as if they were unconnected with any persons or events in her life. Perhaps her writing was therapeutic for her. I hope it was. But it was the vaguest, washiest stuff to read.

[bobby1933]

If i tried to do that, i think it would be like trying to read vomit. :/

[amaebi]

Why, yes! Lukewarm, viscous, sickly sweet vomit!

[bardcat]

Journaling, if that's what I do is called, has been healing and therapeutic for me. Certainly a place of centering. I find my sense of "stability" --- finding a bit of balance --- rising and falling in proportion to my journaling.

[bobby1933]

Yes, and i can tell from the comments you get that you also convey stability and healing to others, me included. As i mentioned in my entry, i think your posts always have a good balance of fact and feeling.

[elainegrey]

I think you have expressive journaling. I suspect the distinction is between journaling about the inner life compared to say, Samuel Pepy's diary which seemed to emphasize record keeping: whom he saw, how much money he had, what he ate, what he and his wife had bought, how he entertained himself.

The post for your own eyes only feature is there: i probably should use it more.

My theory, unsupported by anything other than personal experience, is that journaling helps when you give yourself the opportunity to reflect upon what is foremost in your mind.

[bobby1933]

This seems right and useful, thank you. I am aware of the "private" feature of LJ, but i have also noticed that a few people are somehow able to read it, but maybe i'm wrong. I have used the "private" feature, maybe, three times; each was to avoid embarrassment because the entry seemed excessively immature or self serving or angry (but also a little too interesting to erase).