01.09.2011

Last Seen... Writing for Healing —

Ask anyone who writes regularly in a private journal why they do it, and they usually say, ‘because it makes me feel better.’ I’ve written a diary since I was nine. When I was growing up I did it every night. These days it’s more haphazard, but when I’m struggling with a personal or professional issue, I make time to sit and write.

For years I’ve been fascinated why writing helps. So I’ve delved deeper and have come across some interesting scientific research on how writing regularly improves mental and physical wellbeing, increases the body’s immune system, reduces the number of visits to the doctor and lessens the impact of trauma.

James Pennebaker from the University of Texas in Austin is a pioneer in this field. He’s conducted several studies with people ranging from college students to prisoners, crime victims to chronic pain sufferers.

Here are some of his key findings from just one of his articles, Forming a Story: The Health Benefits of Narrative.

• Writing for 15 minutes over the course of three days improves mental and physical health.

• Those who benefit most use ‘a high number of positive-emotion words and a moderate amount of negative-emotion words’.

• By writing about an emotional experience, people integrate the experience better.

• The physical act of writing ‘allows disturbing experiences to subside gradually from conscious thought’.

• Expressive writing helps in romantic relationships.

And here are a few more reasons of my own:

• Storytelling is an innate human ‘gene’. As we make sense of our world through narrative, we also make sense of our own lives.

• By writing, we externalise feelings on to the page. When you do that, you literally write out your pain or grief. In time, you are able to distance yourself from the event.

• Journaling is a way to be your own therapist. All you need is pen and paper. You may like to invest in a beautiful handmade diary or you might prefer a simple bound notebook. What’s important is that you give yourself permission to write as often as you need to and carve out the time to do it.

There’s much more to say on this. If you happen to be in Byron Bay this weekend, I’m running a workshop Writing to Heal, Writing to Inspire on Saturday 3rd September and there’s still a couple of places left.

How does writing help you navigate through your life?

P.S I haven’t forgotten about the post on writing that winning proposal. Next time.

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