“Change, when it comes, cracks everything open.”
— Dorothy Allison
Research indicates that expressive writing is successful as a therapeutic tool for improved health and well-being and general functioning.
About Expressive Writing
Expressive writing, also most commonly known as journaling, provides an affirming way for all individuals to turn into storytellers and healers of their own story.
Learning to write expressively is much different than learning the craft of writing. Journaling is not about making sure spelling, grammar and punctuation are on point, it does not require multiple drafts and your end goal is not a final product. Instead, journaling is about the process of writing and what feelings your writing conjures up and possibly what action you plan to take as a result of your writing. Expressive writing requires that you not worry about writing for an audience, the only audience is yourself. This freedom provides you the chance to forget the “rules” of writing and focus internally on what it is your mind, body and soul.
Expressive is a cost-effective tool if you are looking to…
- Clarify goals
- Make a career change
- Maintain healthy lifestyle changes
- Make a decision you have been putting off
- Create a plan to financial wellness
- Explore current relationships
- Deal with a recent loss or death
- Enhance your communication skills
- AND MORE!
Writing for Health and Wellness
An inability to manage the daily stress of our lives can have a negative impact on the way our bodies and minds function. Expressive writing, has long been used as a preventative tool to wellness and has positive and healing effects on one’s physical and mental health. For writing to be therapuetic, you must be willing to write openly about your thoughts, emotions and experiences. Doing so allows you to bear witness to your story, reflect on your experience and more deeply explore your thoughts and emotions.
Over 20 years of research have found that expressive writing has been found to…
- Increase the immune system’s functioning
- Reduce stress levels
- Lower blood pressure
- Normalize sleep and eating habits
- Reduce symptoms of a chronic illness
- Improve one’s memory
- Decrease feelings of anxiety, anger and depression
