Posted by kyp on March 10, 2003, at 12:38:57
In reply to Re: Not dumping at all. » Miller, posted by Rach on March 1, 2003, at 6:51:03
Ahh, journaling. Where would I start? Journaling has been my breath for, how long now?
I journal, I journal, I journal.
I write when I am happy, depressed, have questions, have answers, want to gripe and especially when I want to document. I keep a record of how I felt that day, what caused changes in my mood etc.I have gotten to the point in my therapy, to trust my therapist enough to let her read what I honestly write. Some things I can express there, that I can't express to her face to face or feel my thoughts are too "out there".
She reads the journal at home and then in therapy,commments on parts she feels would be theraputic or I bring up parts I feel would be. Or I read parts in session when I can not remember how I was going to word something that happened to me. I write dreams, and together we interpret them.I copy down memories. I make up stories.I write in the other mindsets and they write back so I can document conversations in my head.I write ideas for art projects, lists, and sometimes just scribble because no words can come, to explain how I am feeling.I write my responses to books I read or conversations I hear or speakers I have listened to.
I know I get obsessed with writing occasionally. At times, it is essential I have it with me even when I go places. I think up things while I am driving and write them down.
I feel that over the years when I had no therapist, it was my therapy. Now that I do have therapy, it adds.
For people whom journaling does not come easily, there are lots of exercises to start with. You could just write for 5 minutes whatever comes to your mind, even if it is about not having anything to say, this is called a "quick write".
You can list positives and negatives of journaling.You can describe your day, then describe how you felt about each aspect of those activites. Journal what you would like to say to ... but don't.
List what you hate, or what you appreciate.There are lots of books to get you started. I use pens I feel comfortable with and blank books that will stay open without trying to work at pressing them open in order to put pen to paper, that inspire me.
www.campsark.com is a site of an author who writes books in her own handwriting with little stick figure type drawings pulled from her personal journaling and they are very inspirational to say the least !
Just start! You may get addicted!
poster:kyp
thread:2463
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20030310/msgs/207746.html