Could Journaling Be Helpful in Keeping a Healthy Mental Attitude?

The holidays is a happy time for most people, but for some, the holidays are a lonely, unhappy, depressing time. Be it the loss of a family member around this time or being alone when all the Hallmark commercials are showing big happy family gatherings.

Bipolar tendencies, suicidal thoughts, depression, anxiety, stress related confusion, and paranoia are all mental issues that many people face. Though there are varying degrees of mental health issues and symptoms, many of the treatment options may not work for you. You may also be in a situation where you want to stay away from chemicals or simply cannot afford the insurance costs to get the ongoing counseling you need. Journaling may be an answer for your minor to moderate anxiety and mental health issues. Here are a few reasons why.

Rooting Out the Problems

When you journal, you’ll likely be doing it during an issue with anxiety or depression. This means your thoughts may be manic, fast, or very slow but emotional. As you write, you will likely start off with what you feel the problem is because that is the immediate issue in your mind. As you move through the writing, you may find yourself moving towards the root of the problem without even realizing it. This can help you find what the root issue is and fix that issue to prevent further mental health issues or, at the very least, reduce them.

Outlets When You are Alone

All too often, we find that our depression or mental health issues occur when we are alone. They may be in the middle of the night when no one is awake or during the day when your friends and family are busy with their own lives and responsibilities. This makes journaling ideal. You can still talk it out and get it out of your system, you are just talking to your journal instead.

Figuring Out Triggers

There is an issue with certain mental health issues. You know you are depressed, anxious, stressed, or about to have a bipolar swing but you may not know what brought it on. Journaling can lead you to figuring out the triggers. This allows you to pinpoint them, work through them through reviewing your journal entries, and remove them. Once you can remove the triggers, or avoid them, you can move into a better mental health state and reduce further reactions.

Though journaling will not cure mental health issues, it can help reduce some of the symptoms that cause your day to derail. If you are having increased stress and issues, consider seeking care from a community counselor for assistance.