[sunnydisposition]

I've been meaning to get a journal for sometime, but i fear that writing out my fears, disappointments, struggle, pain will only make it all more real. I feel like as long as stuffs in my mind i can ignore it, label it as "not real". Any thoughts?

[Caelix3]

Originally Posted by Ravdeep Singh

I've been meaning to get a journal for sometime, but i fear that writing out my fears, disappointments, struggle, pain will only make it all more real. I feel like as long as stuffs in my mind i can ignore it, label it as "not real". Any thoughts?

I use a bullet journal and it doesn't involve writing down all your thoughts. So it is less overwhelming.

http://www.thelazygeniuscollective.c...bullet-journal

I have three of sorts.

I keep a large journal of art work. Some of it is painted or scrawled right on the pages, sometimes it is pieces fo larger work pasted in. I even have work that I've sewn into some pages. Occasionaly I write inside this journal but I try to keep it to inspirational quotes and positive ideas.

I am always working on a written journal. I will often though go back and rip out pages of that which was particularly negative. I don't keep my journals for the very reason that all is not positive and I really don't need to reread about difficult periods in my life. A word of note: it is incredibly easy to find yourself ruminating and focusing on the negative. Having twice put myself into the hospital after such rumination plunging me deeper into Depression I have promised myself to make the effort to try not to do so.

My third manner of journalling is maintaining a blog. It isn't always so positive either. Amongst positive reflections and creative writing, I do find myself laying into rants of sorts. Often my blog becomes an extension of this forum. Sometimes it is a continuation of my ideas. The thoughts tend to run the gamut of positive commentary to critical discussion to outright rants. I find that 'completing' my thoughts on a subject to be therapeutic.

I wish I kept up with my journal

it was used a lot back in the day (twice, possibly 3 times a day, every day)

I got sick of writing the same thing in it though so kind of stopped.

my last entry is probably.. I think.. august of 2016, so not so long ago- but not as recent as I'd like it to be

1 day i'm going to restart it as often as I did before.

trouble is, my life is so boring their's barely anything to write about

[gayleggg]

I keep a journal just about what I do and when I'm having a tough time. I use it to track my moods and symptoms. Trying to prove that my moods are caused by the change in seasons.

I just ordered a (90day) CBT journal.

[sunnydisposition]

Originally Posted by justafriend306

I have three of sorts.

I keep a large journal of art work. Some of it is painted or scrawled right on the pages, sometimes it is pieces fo larger work pasted in. I even have work that I've sewn into some pages. Occasionaly I write inside this journal but I try to keep it to inspirational quotes and positive ideas.

I am always working on a written journal. I will often though go back and rip out pages of that which was particularly negative. I don't keep my journals for the very reason that all is not positive and I really don't need to reread about difficult periods in my life. A word of note: it is incredibly easy to find yourself ruminating and focusing on the negative. Having twice put myself into the hospital after such rumination plunging me deeper into Depression I have promised myself to make the effort to try not to do so.

My third manner of journalling is maintaining a blog. It isn't always so positive either. Amongst positive reflections and creative writing, I do find myself laying into rants of sorts. Often my blog becomes an extension of this forum. Sometimes it is a continuation of my ideas. The thoughts tend to run the gamut of positive commentary to critical discussion to outright rants. I find that 'completing' my thoughts on a subject to be therapeutic.

I understand what you are trying to say. Pure Creativity and Unfiltered Reality both need separate journals. especially if reality is a whole lot of struggle and pain.

And I get why you'd want to keep a journal written in a positive tone. It has to be positive, thats the only way we'd feel like picking it up day after day to add, reflect and wonder.

Thanks for sharing. Its been really helpful.

[sunnydisposition]

Originally Posted by shattered sanity

I wish I kept up with my journal

it was used a lot back in the day (twice, possibly 3 times a day, every day)

I got sick of writing the same thing in it though so kind of stopped.

my last entry is probably.. I think.. august of 2016, so not so long ago- but not as recent as I'd like it to be

1 day i'm going to restart it as often as I did before.

trouble is, my life is so boring their's barely anything to write about

I understand. Every writer feels like they are stuck in a rut at some point. I believe when you resume writing this time with fresh eyes youd have plenty to write.
Thanks for sharing.

[Unrigged64072835]

I used to but I kept ruminating about bad times so I stopped.

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by Ravdeep Singh

I've been meaning to get a journal for sometime, but i fear that writing out my fears, disappointments, struggle, pain will only make it all more real. I feel like as long as stuffs in my mind i can ignore it, label it as "not real". Any thoughts?

I keep one but not on a constant basis. Just when there are things I want to write down that I may need to share with the T the next visit or things that are bothering me and I need to get it out. As I'm writing them I put thought into and usually I feel better after writing it down. I seldom go back and read them though. So I guess it depends on what you are doing it for. To read later? To share? To just get it out there and out of you. Plus I keep mine on the computer so it's easier to type it than to write it. Though my writing skills are getting horrible because I so seldom write anything.

I have an art journal. Its more art than words. Actually its my second such journal. Its not in any particular order. I just make the collage art and add the words I see fit. Hugs.

I tried it once, but didn't continue. The main reason for me is that someone else might find it and read it. I cannot risk others find out about my thoughts and personal issues. Some things are better not to be known even to the closest people in your life. That's why I write here.

Originally Posted by Mr. Stranger

I tried it once, but didn't continue. The main reason for me is that someone else might find it and read it. I cannot risk others find out about my thoughts and personal issues. Some things are better not to be known even to the closest people in your life. That's why I write here.

For a long time I felt this way too. I hide them.

I throw them out each time I start a new one. The reason is I don't wish them to be found (it is easier to hide one than the dozens I have completed). I also write about some pretty dark material which wouldn't be healthy for me to read. Journalling is an act of release. I don't need to take it back.

Originally Posted by justafriend306

For a long time I felt this way too. I hide them.

I throw them out each time I start a new one. The reason is I don't wish them to be found (it is easier to hide one than the dozens I have completed). I also write about some pretty dark material which wouldn't be healthy for me to read. Journalling is an act of release. I don't need to take it back.

Actually for me I would like others to find them, but only after I die. I would like others to know how I lived and what I did and why I made the decisions I made. But keeping them is very risky. If anyone knew my life while I'm living, I would be in big troubles. Also, I feel writing to a journal lack the interaction element. Here you feel you are telling someone somewhere of what you are writing. It feels different to me. Of course, even here I cannot write everything. Somethings cannot be written. If I could make sure no one would read my journals, I would write every single detail of my life.

[Blue_Bird]

I keep a 2 journals. One I write in a couple times a week or less with how I'm doing and regular journal diary stuff then one I use everyday with this 365 Journal Prompt Book I bought which gives prompts for every day for a year

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by Blue_Bird

I keep a 2 journals. One I write in a couple times a week or less with how I'm doing and regular journal diary stuff then one I use everyday with this 365 Journal Prompt Book I bought which gives prompts for every day for a year

Good job, don't know how you do two journals though. One , with maybe one entry a week is about all I can do.

I do the Stigma app on my iPhone.