Blogs, journals, etc: Worth the trouble?

I'm kind of on the fence about this one. For a while, I kept a blog. I don't think anybody but me and a few friends really read it, but that wasn't the point behind it. I just wanted to write out a few of the things that were going through my head. I thought maybe if I sat and wrote them all down they would make more sense to me (and they didn't). But really quickly, I got bored with the whole thing. I'm the same way with journals. I'll buy notebooks with the intention that this time, I'm really going to stick with it. And three weeks later, I've moved onto something else.

Lately, I've kind of turned my Twitter into a mini blog. It's like my stream of consciousness. I think I'm actually more comfortable with that format, even though it's more public. It's smaller bursts. I don't have to put a whole lot of thought into what I say there. Just little thoughts as they enter my mind.

How do blogs and journals work for you guys? Do you keep one? Do you find yourself kind of struggling about what to write in them? Because that's the issue I keep having and why I quit writing every time. I want to try to get back to it b/c I think it could be beneficial if I actually did it, but I just don't have the focus.

Thoughts?

I do the same thing. I buy really nice journals, write once or twice in them, forget I have them, find them latter, try it again, after a couple days I am off doing something else. I bet I have not bought my last journal, even though I have at least 10 that are 98% empty. AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH the real Bipolar Life and all it's twists and turns.

Yep! I find the stuff later and think "wow, this was really interesting. I should have stuck with it." But nope. I just can't make myself do it. Sucks.

I also keep a journal. And just like you and tcmoon52 there are a lot of gaps. But I don't think the importance of writing a journal is making sure you don't forget to make an entry. The whole point is to get to know yourself, a self analysis of your ups and downs, the way you handle difficulties, maybe a notation of someone's advice etc..

Over the years my ability, if you will, to make entries on a regular basis has improved as well as my understanding of my episodes. I believe keeping a journal, blog or what have you could help others understand themselves if they just stick with it.

I hope you have a pleasant day...

I've always liked workbook sorts of books and finally, around 1996 came across Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way and went through that and her "morning pages" worked for me, got me doing a journal sort of activity long enough for it to stick and show some good uses. Morning pages aren't dated or anything and that about killed me because I started going back to find out when I thought X, Y, or Z and doing things trying to compare dreams I had each week the night after therapy or counting up number of times something was said or done. I started dating my entries and it was much better as a mood diary and overall record, giving me lots of prompts of what to talk about in therapy.

I started a blog on bipolar if you want to trade urls. I find it cathartic- a place to put thoughts and emotions.

I have this same problem. I actually have a lot of good ideas I want to write about but I can't keep up with it. I would love to write a bipolar blog but I can't. Also, I wanted to be a novelist. There was a time in life when I could write 8 hours a day 7 days a week. I wrote one whole book which turned out to be 150,000 words (which is way too long for what it is...)

Anyway, I want to work on my writing and try to get published, but it is a huge struggle now. I also have trouble reading any more. I used to read those big giant fantansy novels like Lord of the Rings type stuff. I struggle now, even though I love the subject matter. Takes me forever to get through a book. The last book I read it took me 8 months. I read the same book when I was 13 in about a week.

I also have twitter but I never talk because I don't have many followers or people to follow, and I get embarrassed that I'll say something weird.

The terminal blahs, which seem such a part&parcel of bipolarMe, really needs the daily disciple of writing--morning pages, if you want to call them that. I started with a notebook under my pillow, 21 yrs ago, & I'd write why I couldn't write that day. I keep it private, because I need the hidden me (including what may not be obvious until days after I've written it) to flow out.

This daily writing attact, over the years, has been therapeutic to the inertia that seems to affect me. I've been able to translate the principle of that to other areas where I never seemed to be able to get from thought to action. Waiting for the inspiration to strike just never got a whole lot done for me--tho of course it kept me entirely in my comfort zone.

Moose, I don't have a current blog. Just one that I abandoned almost 3 years ago for no real reason. I'd be interested in looking at yours.

I really need to try and discipline myself to write, even if I write about not knowing what to say. I will see if I can get started again.

I don't journal, blog or write anything. The most writing I do is here on PC. I've tried in the past but it just isn't for me. I'm a very visual person tho. I create visuals in my head that reflect whatever I am reflecting on. I can recall the visuals too. I even dream like this.

I don't know a lot about writing tips, I would just let it flow freely, not worry too much about subject matter, or controlling what comes out, maybe just to get a start.

I journal every day and keep a detailed mood log.
The journaling helps me process my feelings.

I have always wanted to write in a journal, never wrote more than a page though. The story of my life always seemed as though it would be a fantastic how-not-to-screw-up-your-life book, but I never followed through with that either. I get all these great ideas in the middle of the night, get all excited to start writing, and then NOTHING.

I always wanted to journal and had the best intentions. Nothing happened until I was in the hospital. They told me to journal. The reason was to keep track of my episodes. My memory is fried, and I couldn't answer questions about frequency, severity, or duration. Journaling is great for this so I started writing everyday. As I got better I had less and less to say. Then I decided to only report my episodes. When I had no episodes, I quit writing altogether. I start things all gung ho then eventually lose interest. I wish I still journaled, maybe I start again. Wish me luck.