Writing To Heal Pain

Author: Alisha Brown

Categories: Journaling

Published: 2022/09/23 at 7:25 pm

Journaling may be your solution to healing.

Journaling can be one of the best things you can do to feel better when you are experiencing emotional pain, daily stressors, and inner sadness. Journal writing can help you gain clarity, release pent-up feelings sometimes you did not realize you had, and process emotions in a safe and private way. It’s a valuable self-care tool to heal going forward. However, if you choose this route, there are a couple of things to keep in mind.

1. Make sure you check in with yourself often. Many of the things you write may be emotional triggers, make sure that you are prepared emotionally for the journey.

2. Journaling may uncover issues and personal things that you may not be aware of until you start writing. At times, journaling may even make you feel worse. Having someone who you trust like a mental health professional or mentor that is positive, open to listening, and can work with you through these issues, is recommended especially in instances of heavy emotional pain.

3. Keep your journal in a safe place where it is not readily available to others. Keep in mind, everyone will not be supportive of what you have to say or even the challenges that you faced in the past. Only share with people you trust and when you are able to process, the reactions. It’s perfectly ok not to share, remember this is for you.

Here are a few Journaling prompts to help you get started.

1. What is bothering you the most right now? Is this situational or emotional?

2. Who has hurt you and what happened?

3. Journal some ways to care for yourself physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Take a day or more to focus on one at a time and write and how it went, and remember you can always make changes and try it again.

4. Journal about a time that evokes feelings of happiness, and stops there.

5. Write a letter to your younger and then your older self.

6. What words do you need to hear spoken, and who do you need to hear them from? Why?

7. Are there any situations holding you back from healing completely? Why do you feel they are holding you back? What does a healthy and healed life look like to you?

8. What do you have no control over regarding the situation/s causing you pain? How can you release or change your reaction/response?

9. What could you have done differently, do you have any regrets, and if so, how can you forgive yourself? Explain what you need most to heal.

10. Describe your support system including friends, family, pets, and community.