Health Benefits of Journaling
Journaling, also known as writing, blogging, or keeping a diary, involves the regular practice of recording thoughts and activities. This personal writing technique is particularly beneficial for individuals facing stressful situations, such as dealing with serious illnesses like cancer. It provides a means of stress relief through self-expression, fostering personal insight, and creating a sense of connection with oneself and others. Journaling can be a low-cost, accessible method for managing stress, especially for those unable to engage in other stress-reducing activities or medications.
Participants can easily begin journaling by using simple tools like paper and pencil or digital platforms, including smartphone apps designed for this purpose. Regular writing may help individuals process their experiences and feelings, leading to a sense of well-being and personal cohesion. Additionally, sharing journal entries with therapists or support groups can enhance feelings of social support. While there are few risks associated with journaling, it is essential to approach it with an understanding of the emotional responses that may arise during the process. Overall, journaling is a versatile practice that can significantly contribute to emotional health and stress management.
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Subject Terms
Health Benefits of Journaling
ALSO KNOWN AS: Writing, blogging, keeping a diary
DEFINITION: Journaling is writing one’s thoughts and recording one’s activities on a regular basis.
Why performed: Knowledge that one has a serious illness, such as cancer, is stressful because of the uncertainty it may bring. Additionally, the gravity of medical procedures and physical and emotional experiences one may endure to treat the illness may also be inherently stressful. Journaling may allow individuals to experience decreased stress via feelings of relief through connecting with others or their own experience, increased insight, increased private expression, or feelings of personal cohesion or wholeness resulting from writing about their experience. Stress management approaches such as journaling are especially useful for individuals who may not be able to participate in other stress-relieving activities or to take stress-relieving medications. It is also a low-cost technique that can be implemented almost anywhere.
Patient preparation: Clients using a simple paper diary or computer to write a journal need little preparation. Clients are instructed to write at a regular time or when experiencing any symptoms, reactions, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings that may be important to their condition and treatment. They may also need instruction about how long to spend writing, how to do free writing (writing whatever comes to mind without self-censorship), or how to handle emotional responses that may arise while writing. For those wishing to develop blogs, they may need instruction about how to create a blog, as well as information about privacy limitations.
Steps of the procedure: Clients are given tools to write, such as paper and pencil or a computer. They are then told to write on a regular basis or when having certain experiences. The writing is then kept for a period decided by the client, provider, or both.
Journaling can also be a personal choice made by the patient and can be performed when the patient feels necessary. Smartphones also offer applications where patients can record their thoughts and feelings. In December 2023, Apple launched its first Journal app on the iPhone, which allows users to easily record their thoughts via typing, talk-to-text, or voice recordings.
After the procedure: Clients generally experience stress relief. They may review what they have written on one or more occasions to gain personal insights. They may also share this information with a therapist or significant others for discussion or share it with individuals who have similar conditions in order to foster a sense of group support.
Risks: Journaling does not contain any inherent risks beyond what may come from frequent writing; increased personal awareness of one’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors; or from publicly sharing personal information with others.
Results: Clients may experience a sense of stress relief, well-being, or personal cohesion; they may also experience greater social support if what they write is shared and stimulates responses in others.
Bibliography
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