If you ever feel overwhelmed by racing thoughts and anxiety, it can be helpful to cultivate a practice of journaling to experience peace of mind.
The Link Between Journaling and Lowering Anxiety
Although journaling may not work for everyone in decreasing levels of anxiety and stress, it does work for many people. Journaling creates space for you to get your thoughts and feelings out onto paper rather than holding them all in your mind. It frees up space in your mind and allows you to be present with life rather than distracted by your anxious thoughts.
It can also help you make connections between your thoughts, feelings, emotions, and actions that you may not have seen otherwise. Journaling regularly can help you identify patterns between behaviors and thoughts so you can make changes geared toward healing. Another benefit journaling can provide is realizing what you desire and what is important to you.
How Do I Journal?
There is no right or wrong way to journal. You do not need to be a writer to write—this is just for yourself. You may find it helpful to have journaling prompts, in which case working with a therapist who integrates writing therapy into sessions could be helpful.
Perhaps you might find it beneficial to simply journal in a stream-of-consciousness style—meaning dumping everything in your mind onto paper without rules, filters, or a specific direction. You simply allow your pen to be the conduit through which you release the things that weigh on your mind.
Setting up a Consistent Practice
In creating new habits, such as journaling, it can be helpful to perform the habit at about the same time each day. For example, you could make journaling part of your morning or evening routine. You could also journal when you get the intuitive nudge to write out what you are feeling throughout the day.
Making peace with emotions begins with learning new ways of coping with them. There are many ways to do this, and writing is one strategy that can be helpful for you. In setting up a consistent practice of journaling and feeling your emotions, you can experience relief from them.
Journaling is an effective practice in learning how to calmly respond to emotions rather than react to them with avoidance. In learning the connection between your thoughts, feelings, and actions it can be helpful to begin journaling for peace of mind. It can be challenging to begin new habits and learn new ways of coping, which is why our team is here to support you as you begin to relate to your emotions differently through practices such as writing. Call Avalon Malibu today at (844) 857-5992.
