Discussion Thoughts on Journaling?

[UninformedLover]

I've started journaling at the suggestion of my therapist and I don't know if it's helping. I have only did it twice so far so I'm going to give it a chance. I guess it is a good way to document stuff that has happened to me that I want to talk about later on in therapy. But does anyone else journal? What do you think of it? Did/Does it help?

 

[afinedaytoexit]

Hey, in my experience it depends a lot on how you're feeling and if you're prone to rumination. Journaling may either help me sort out my feelings and verbalize them, or trap me into a self-destructive rumination loop.
And whenever I feel it's helping me, the relief I feel is kinda short-lived. But long-term, it's pretty helpful and allows you to gain insight on how your emotions work, your triggers, your emotional patterns etc.

 

[SomeoneHelpMe]

Hello, I do journaling. I have done it a few times now, and it has truly helped me work on some things. I was able to actually see, that I have been done wrong. But not only that, I also saw that there are many people helping me out, and that I have managed quite a few things in my life. I could also, in hindsight, see many of the little joys and wonders.
I have stopped due to a depressive episode, but after seeing your post, and thinking about it, I will start again today. So, thank you. :)

 

[spero_meliora]

If you can manage to keep up with it, I think it can definitely help -- it makes me stop overthinking, sometimes even just writing letters that will never be sent to people even helps. It's also a useful tool to see trends in your day to day or over a period of time, and help you avoid potential triggers and/or help sort your thoughts of things you need to bring up in therapy (if you attend). the patterns are helpful!

 

[misty]

Journaling is sooo helpful for documenting, not just for therapy but even lil happy memories and stuff to look back on and see how far you've come :) I also find journaling before sleep can help get thoughts out of my head so im not up all night stressing over random shit haha

 

[Grog]

Sometimes it feels cathartic to put painful thoughts and feelings to paper. I like to journal; I personally find it helpful. But I'm sure it's not for everyone.

I really like iPhone's Journal app. I can write an entry, and then log my emotion into Apple Health which is also logged into my journal entry — as well as photos, activities I was doing, places I went, etc. It's easy, organized, and it's with me wherever I go. I especially like taking a photo of where I am when doing a journal entry so I can remember exactly where I was when I felt what I felt.

 

[iji]

it has been very good for me

 

[SchizoPolyGymnast]

I have a different way to approach journaling. I actually turn my struggles, my relationships, literally anything going on in my life...into an urban legend. People who follow me know that I'm obsessed with urban legends and I find that inserting myself in an absurd scenario not only makes journaling more fun, it also highlights all the things that are absurd about the situation, or that I don't understand, or find creative solutions. It gives me additional insight is what I'm saying. Also, turning my journal entries into urban legends makes it sooooo much easier for me to open up to people about my struggles, and I find people are able to relate better.

 

[LostLily]

I been journaling for years now. Same entries are just bullet points on what I did that day other entries are just me ruminating about my feeling. Does feel good to get the emotions out .

 

[usernamesarehard]

Yeah, I have a journal/diary. I like having it because I have a very bad memory, so it helps me remember events that have happened in my life. Not even important things, just things I did that day and conversations I had with people.

If you have a bad memory journals are great because you can look back on events that have happened and :
-recognize patterns
-recognize reoccurring thoughts
-remember conversations/ arguments/ events that happened with people more clearly (this is important to me because sometimes people will say they did or didn't say or do something and if you have a bad memory you can be made to feel like you're crazy for remembering things differently)

Having a journal gives me the ability to look back on and reflect on my life. And gives me a way to look back on events and analyze why I did or said something (which for me is somewhat difficult as I need time to really think to understand my actions).

 

[LetMeSeeTheSun]

it's one of the best tool for mental health that i came accross, there's different exercices (gratitude, settings objectives/todos, remembering stuffs) so it truly adapts to your needs.
i like to glue receipts and others trinket to it from good event i had that day

 

[niceday]

Keeping a journal helps me avoid mental rumination and finally draw some conclusions or simply let out my emotions. After that, my thoughts have a physical presence, so they can't be lost, and I can always return to them. (and I can finally forget about them.)
Reading through an old journal, I also realized how patchy my memory is. :D