NEWSLETTER: Issue #1
. . . Write the vision, and make it plain . . . Habakkuk 2:2 (KJV)
In times of crisis or extreme stress, what’s inside of us is going to come out. Traumatic events can produce trauma responses. But something as simple as regular journal writing can help to:
Increase Immune Support: Clinical studies prove that writing about painful and traumatic experiences can increase immune support.
Release Anxiety: Although we must stay informed, a steady diet of stressful information can become overwhelming. Expressing our worries can relieve pressure.
Grieve Loss: Expressing extreme sadness can create space for joy and increased energy. During this time of crisis, we can grieve the loss of lives and livelihoods, stability, and normalcy.
Express Anger: Anger has been described as a “violent” emotion because it carries an energy that must be expressed. It is a well-known fact that anger turned inward (unexpressed) can lead to clinical depression. Journaling is one safe and healthy way to do that.
Shift Focus: In the midst of extreme sadness, keep a list of all the things for which you are grateful, and focus more on those than the things that make you sad.
Stay Positive: Fear is an appropriate response to danger. But, left unaddressed, it can become a negative motivating factor, causing us to become stuck, and hindering our ability to think clearly and act compassionately (toward ourselves and others).
Self-care is Key: There are no rules to journaling! Set a time to write daily or only when you feel the need. Take short writing breaks throughout the day. Write first thing in the morning or before going to bed. It's up to you. Don’t worry about spelling or grammar. Don’t judge your writing. Just let it flow.
Admittedly, that can be challenging for CSA survivors who often struggle with perfectionism and being overly hard on ourselves. But the more freedom we allow ourselves to have, the more relaxing journaling will be, and the greater the mental, emotional, and spiritual benefits we’ll experience. I’ll write more about the spiritual benefits in my next blog post. For now, remember that your thoughts and feelings are valid and worthy of expression.
Most importantly, don’t let fear keep you from telling the truth. In other words, don’t censor your writing. Remember that you have the right to express how you feel, what you think, and what you need without worrying about how someone else feels about it. A coworker once told me that they don’t journal because someone else might read it. I said if someone reads what you wrote and doesn’t like what it says, that’s their issue, not yours’. You don’t have anything to prove to anyone. This is something to do for you, for your own mental and emotional health, which will also have a positive effect on your physical health. So, give yourself permission to express yourself!
Until next time, take care.