Journaling advice

[AladdinSane]

Does anyone have any experience in journaling and how to get started?

I'm trying something new in an attempt to process a lot of emotions and grief that has been kept in since my granddad died.

All I've done this morning is open up my notebook and just write whatever came to my head. Mainly rage at my situation but I just wanted to know how experienced journalers go about it?

Any advice welcome!

 

[heretoreaditall2019]

I’m sorry for your loss

I’ve started journaling recently and I’ve found it incredibly helpful. It’s not so much to process large events although I have had historical trauma, mine is more around managing residual anxiety and negative thought patterns? Which is why I find the daily planner style pages really help me, I’ve got an a5 Filofax and I force myself to write positive bullet points about each day, and at the end of the week at the window on the top of the left hand page I write a summary on the week.

I’ve also got blank pages that I use monthly to write: goals & accomplishments. It’s definitely helping. Good luck with your process

 

[rainbowlemon]

I feel when trying to process grief and harder emotions emotionally shutting down is very common, which makes writing harder. There's nothing wrong with the current way you've been doing it. Art therapy could also be used as an alternative to allow non verbal expression. You don't have to be an artist, it could be drawing, painting or even just collaging.

There's a few channels on Youtube which help you get started.

I use a one line a day Journal from Amazon. I haven't written in my old journal for months, as I just can't write anymore even if i carry it around with me. The one line was easier to maintain, because it demanded a lot less- just one sentence with the option to write more if you wanted to.

 

[mindlessness]

I find googling journalling prompts can be helpful! Like 'Journalling prompts for anxiety/grief/depression' or whatever specifically I know I want to write about. Like @heretoreaditall2019 I use a day-per-page diary, because there's limited space and it takes some pressure off. Also a big fan of art therapy - I am awful at art but when I was struggling with depression it was a helpful outlet. You have to detach from the inner critic in your head going 'well that's a tit drawing ' though.

https://counseling.uic.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/329/2020/05/Grief-Journaling-Prompts.pdf

25 Grief Journal Prompts & Tips For Getting Started

A grief journal is a tool to understand your feelings and emotions after a significant death or loss. Grief experts say that writing can be like therapy in that it helps you understand yourself and your grief, share your experiences, and reconnect with the world.1

www.choosingtherapy.com

Some of these might be a helpful starting place?