How can writing be therapeutic?
Writing is universally regarded as a coping strategy. There is even something called "writing therapy" that is recommended by mental health professionals and even practiced in and out of psychiatric hospitals. Writing therapy helps patients gradually express their trauma or struggles through journalling and expressive writing. It has been proven to even help with physical symptoms of illnesses such as Irritable Bowl Syndrome, Rheumatoid Arthritis and asthma. It also helps tremendously with mental illness, addiction, trauma, abuse victims and other emotional problems. I have found that talking face to face about issues is a lot more difficult than writing them down. Writing is sometimes a better choice for those who are not ready to talk out loud. It can be easier to be articulate, calm and honest. People may have issues talking to a therapist about their problems, because they are hard to explain, they fear judgement, they find it hard to open up, or they simply do not have time. Even if you do not suffer from any mental or physical illnesses, journalling and expressive writing has proven to relieve stress from everyday struggles. Nobody has a perfect life, and everyone needs an outlet. A safe, positive coping strategy is writing.
Half the books that we read are by people who are venting and releasing some sort of hidden emotion in their writing. We may have no idea while we are reading it, but authors create characters and settings that showcase their own emotional state. Sometimes an author's inspiration comes from their dark pasts and experiences in their personal life. The books can be fiction or nonfiction, indirectly relating their experiences through a character or writing a memoir. Writing about an alternate reality is stress relieving and therapeutic. Jeanette Walls wrote The Glass Castle, a memoir about her tumultuous childhood. It is a true story and it is so compelling to read about her crazy upbringing. It is a form of therapy, even if the author themselves does not realize. People have always told me that bottling up emotion is a terrible habit that can lead to anger issues and even violence. Even if one is not directly addressing the problem and talking openly about it, releasing some of the anguish is a important.
Half the books that we read are by people who are venting and releasing some sort of hidden emotion in their writing. We may have no idea while we are reading it, but authors create characters and settings that showcase their own emotional state. Sometimes an author's inspiration comes from their dark pasts and experiences in their personal life. The books can be fiction or nonfiction, indirectly relating their experiences through a character or writing a memoir. Writing about an alternate reality is stress relieving and therapeutic. Jeanette Walls wrote The Glass Castle, a memoir about her tumultuous childhood. It is a true story and it is so compelling to read about her crazy upbringing. It is a form of therapy, even if the author themselves does not realize. People have always told me that bottling up emotion is a terrible habit that can lead to anger issues and even violence. Even if one is not directly addressing the problem and talking openly about it, releasing some of the anguish is a important.
This is a good point about writing being very cathartic, but you haven't really written about your book here. Make sure you are not rushing these because you have make up work to do.
ReplyDeleteI agree, I think writing things down makes it easier to cope with whatever you may be going through. Talking to someone can be difficult because at least for me, I feel more vulnerable that way. It makes me feel weak. But writing is always a good option and you did a great job of explaining your point.
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