How to use writing as therapy
Writing therapy can be practiced alone (as self-therapy) or in a workshop setting. Shy people often can’t express what they feel in words. As a result, they keep everything inside with no way to get it out. At some point, they may explode when there is an overflow of repressed emotions. Writing as a therapy is a simple way to take care of yourself, to manage your emotions and to get to know yourself… and all you need is a sheet of paper and a pen!
1) Use writing as therapy: let it flow
For 5 minutes on the clock, write down whatever comes to mind. Don’t worry about spelling, punctuation or whether your sentences make sense or not. Maybe you’ll have a lot of sentences in your head first and your mind will be racing, in which case take three deep breaths. This will help you silence the mind and connect to who you really are inside.
2) You can go pro
If you prefer to look for professionals, there are also writing workshops (not necessarily therapeutic) to get you started. Indeed, with the help of writing professionals, you can learn how to build your thoughts or, on the contrary, how to free them to fill the pages without thinking too much. That’s the magic of writing as therapy.
3) The power of the diary
Many people keep a diary since childhood. We write down curious facts, anecdotes and interesting things that have happened to us. When it comes to learning how to use writing as therapy, this journal could help us get started.
4) Use writing as therapy: write to yourself
Write a letter to the person you were 1 year, 1 day, 1 month, 10 years ago. Or to the one you will be in 1 day, 1 month, 1 year, 10 years, etc. Indeed, the possibilities are infinite. If you could write a letter to the child you were, what would you say to them? And to your new self at the end of the summer, what would you tell? A totally cathartic self-writing.
Therapeutic writing can become a daily practice or be done on an ad hoc basis. You can use it after a negative or traumatic event. Or simply employ it to better live daily life, reduce small anxieties or anchor positive thoughts. It can be very effective in fighting against limiting beliefs that spoil your life.