Traumatic Experiences Community Daily Check-in Tuesday 28th November 2017
Greetings to you all!
Do you journal? Have you thought of journalling? In the words of the famous poet, William Wordsworth : "Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart."
Writing a journal can have lots of benefits. When you write by hand, you slow down your thoughts and become more reflective. It gets it out of your head and onto the paper. It provides an opportunity for solitude,, for being alone and going deeper with your thoughts and feelings. By writing something down you can put some structure and organization into what may be anxious feelings or uncertainties. Helps you to make sense of your experience.. It provides a record of your journey.
As James W. Penebaker said " As the number of studies increased, it became clear that writing was a far more powerful tool for healing than anyone had ever imagined."
Journals come in all shapes and sizes, with beautiful pictorial covers and and in plain colours.A journal and a nice pen may be just the gift for someone this Christmas.
How is your day going? What is your experience with journalling? Would you recommend it ? Or pop in to say hi! Always good to hear from you. This is your space and a safe place. x
@rozie
Hello Rozie! I personally love journalling. It helps me to recognize and understand my feeling better. I would definitely recommend journalling to others because I think it is a good organizer of emotions.
Today I couldn't speak clearly what I wanted to say and couldn't speak loud enough that others would have trouble hearing me. Lately, I am working on my communication skill. To look into people's eye while talking, speak with a louder voice, express my thoughts, and try to calm myself while I'm talking. But I still feel a fear that people may hurt me in some ways and this will lead me to freeze when I try to talk sometimes. I constantly read others facial and body expressions to see if they are offended or annoyed by what I did or say. Anyway, the positive thing from today's experience was that I noticed what I was doing wrong at that moment. Next step is to try not to freeze when talking with people and think and speak clearly.
@exuberantTriangle2562 Hey Triangle it sounds like you're on the right track with many things. Well Done! 
Having to learn so many different languages and cultures in my life so far, to build confidence in speaking I read aloud alle the time. I also try to not read people as this is way misleading for me. Cultural differances. Keep up the great work, you'll get there with time, practice, and experience. Always remember your words and feelings are just as important as everyone elses.
Journaling is hard, but very beneficial to me. I've kind of lost the habit, which depresses me. I know I need to journal again, at least to understand my thoughts. In regards to trauma, though, there are still some things that are very difficult to write down/say...
@goldenThinker9313 Indeed Thinker, it can be tough, but it can't hurt you again. The worst is over. Journaling is a really great way to work things out. Journals also give us something to show our Therapists and make excellent use of our time with them.
@rozie
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@melliotm Hi Melli Hope you are well.
@Raveninthelabrynth Hello, dear Raven. ❤️ I'm trying my very best to manage, thanks for asking. This time of year can be difficult for me, as I know it is for many. It is what it is, and no matter how incremental or non-linear (or downright discombobulating) the journey may sometimes feel, i know that progress is still being made.
How are you doing today?
I just to do it.. but then I stopped. At various points in my life I have tried different sorts and it never lasts long. Now when I feel like writing something down I do and when I don't I don't. I used to have the idea of reading it back to myself in the future, but I hardly ever look and if I did now, I would be triggered so bad I wouldn't make it through the rest of the day. Talking with people on forums like this is way more helpful for me.
@Kuma0187 Hey K how are you? :) Remember that it's things of the past. They're over. The more we face our particulars the less they have hold on us. If working it alone is too much for now, perhaps work it with your Therapist?
@Raveninthelabrynth
Yeah that's just it. I don't have a therapist. I desperately want to face it and work through it but I daren't do it alone.
Six months ago I was admitted to a psychiatric hospital because I didn't think I was going to make it. I only then found out that I had a particular form of complex ptsd and there was a reason why the past was so hard for me. Since then I have been waiting to deal with it in a healthy way but I am not there yet! :)
@Kuma0187
Yes I think its about journalling or writing when you feel like it, rather than it becoming a ritual or requirement.We are all different and what fits for one may not for another.So we find what is helpful, and as you say talking here in the forum is a better fit for you. Glad to have you here with us.x
@rozie Hi Rozie great checkin post and I love journalling, though dont do as much as I used to but I had all kinds of wacky books for journals, some full of writing so tiny just filling up every ounce of space on the page, some with poems, some with doodles and some just ramblings of any kind. Its interesting sometimes to get them back out and see how hard you have come, and I even dug out a couple poems from a journal of mine for the recent poetry event in trauma. I had forgotton just how many I had written but for me writing is very healing, and very cathartic :)
@dancingRainbow45
Thank you Raine.... its dear to my heart too. I think when you're a "writer" rather than a "talker" it comes much more naturally to write and the words just flow. ... it can be a first step in expressing something that is hard to say. And there's probbaly times and seasons in our lives when journalling is more significant, and we do more.Have a good day! x
@rozie
I feel so low...hi.
@conscientiousPineapple1782
Hi,sorry to hear this,... its a a tough place to be. We are here with you...how can we support you? Please PM me if you'd like to chat. Wondering what has helped you before when you'r e feeling low... something that is nurturing and kind to you. Hug. x
@conscientiousPineapple1782
*hug*
@rozie
I know you enjoy writing! And I love your poetry. So keep on writing. ..in whatever way works for you.
i sometimes like writing down song lyrics with how i think im feeling and i read them over and over and i feel like it makes me feel a bit better :)
@Jesse9675
That sounds great!!! I'm really glad this works for you as a positive coping method, as I know it can be hard to develop such for a lot of us here. Doing so is a huge milestone you should be proud of yourself for!
@rozie
Hi Rozie and all!
I do journaling a lot. Especially when my emotions seem like they're going to explode or have already taken that turn. I stopped journalling so much lately, and I find that I'm way more stressed out. Not to mention the fact that I'm doing WAAAAY more intensive therapy lately. Diggin' up the stuff that is very much that sacred "root" of the problem kind of thing. Add in the fact I have my own personal narcissist wreaking havoc while I'm trying to heal myself.
Somehow, I'm discovering my own strength. I'm able to do a lot more than I would have normally before, to accomplish things I would've broke under the pressure of. Like my test. I would've been irreparably stuck for awhile as I spiraled into self-loathing and the like. Not only that, I've also learned the hows and whys of who and what I'm dealing with. That I'm not to blame for everything they try to project on me. But this time I seriously KNOW it and BELIEVE it. I believe in the power of myself. In the truth of who I really am, not who they "think" I am. Sorry if this is all over and the grammar is horrible. X_X;
@CaloenasNicobarica Hey Caloenas, how wonderful to see you today.
Yes writing can be very hard, and our minds can certainly do their own thing and work against us. But as you said, writing was a great help. Perhaps it's something you may talk with a Therapist about when working on really tough stuff? It's good to see you, hope you come around more often.
