Does anyone journal?

Trace14 · Jul 19, 2017 at 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KristenRenee

Hi there. I journal all the time on my computer. it helps me vent and get my thoughts out of my head and on paper. it has really helped me a lot.

Hey there back and welcome. That's great, I do think journaling has a therapeutic value, but I also think you need to be careful with it. Congrats on keeping yours going

reb569 · Jul 19, 2017 at 05:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trace14

I would rather type mine, after carpal tunnel surgery on both hands, holding a pen or pencil for too long is not comfortable. Just for the record if you have to have both hands done, separate the surgeries about 6 mos apart, just saying

Not my best moment as you might imagine. They were like 3 wks apart, not enough time

That's all I'm going to say about that

So the information was important for the T to know.

Luckily, at least so far, carpal tunnel doesn't seem to be an issue. I'm just a lefty with horrible hand writing. When I was 7 or 8 my grandmother tried to teach me to write right handed, I think she thought I was the devil incarnate because I was left-handed. When that failed, she decided that if I HAD to write left handed, at least I was going to write neatly. That failed too. Strangely, the only thing I am truly left-handed at is writing. Everything else I go right handed or both.

leomama · Jul 19, 2017 at 05:34 AM

Yeah, but lately haven't been feeling it.

Jul 19, 2017 at 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trace14

I've journal ed online, in fact there's some sites that are set up for journaling. Password protected. I too would rather keyboard to correct my mistakes, spellcheck, etc. Plus I've had surgery on both hands so holding a pen or pencil for very long makes my hand hurt. Thanks for sharing.

I keep a VeraCrypt encrypted file container that has all of my most sensitive data such as digital scans of important documents (medical records, bills, ETC), financial information and business plans pertaining to my online business, and of course, my journal from many years ago. I journal like this because I type significantly faster on a keyboard than I can manually write (I DO type 80 WPM after all

) and because I feel like my digital journal is more secure than if I had a paper journal that somebody could find and read, steal, or destroy.

I don't trust any web site to store something that private, no matter how "password protected" it is because I don't know how secure their website really is and if they were hacked and somebody stole my journal or other sensitive data, well lets just say that some of the stuff I journal about would likely end me up in a NSA watch list LOL

Speaking of which, is journaling about your feelings, no matter how potentially negative they are really healthy? Or is there a better way to go about things?

01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reb569

Luckily, at least so far, carpal tunnel doesn't seem to be an issue. I'm just a lefty with horrible hand writing. When I was 7 or 8 my grandmother tried to teach me to write right handed, I think she thought I was the devil incarnate because I was left-handed. When that failed, she decided that if I HAD to write left handed, at least I was going to write neatly. That failed too. Strangely, the only thing I am truly left-handed at is writing. Everything else I go right handed or both.

Oh well, neat hand writing is less important than it's ever been. Most of the writing we do now days is digital and the print is becoming obsolete.

As long as you can write your signature and fill out basic paperwork, I don't see an issue with having poor penmanship in this digital age. One day, paperwork might even become obsolete in favor of a technology related alternative.

We live in interesting times, my friend

Trace14 · Jul 19, 2017 at 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarknessIsMyFriend

I keep a VeraCrypt encrypted file container that has all of my most sensitive data such as digital scans of important documents (medical records, bills, ETC), financial information and business plans pertaining to my online business, and of course, my journal from many years ago. I journal like this because I type significantly faster on a keyboard than I can manually write (I DO type 80 WPM after all

) and because I feel like my digital journal is more secure than if I had a paper journal that somebody could find and read, steal, or destroy.

I don't trust any web site to store something that private, no matter how "password protected" it is because I don't know how secure their website really is and if they were hacked and somebody stole my journal or other sensitive data, well lets just say that some of the stuff I journal about would likely end me up in a NSA watch list LOL

Speaking of which, is journaling about your feelings, no matter how potentially negative they are really healthy? Or is there a better way to go about things?

<<is journaling about your feelings, no matter how potentially negative they are really healthy? >> This is why I started this thread. Not really sure if that's the best way, unless you bring them up with a professional to work through. Because when I journal is like taking the problem and putting it somewhere else....but the problem is still there. That make sense?

04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trace14

<<is journaling about your feelings, no matter how potentially negative they are really healthy? >> This is why I started this thread. Not really sure if that's the best way, unless you bring them up with a professional to work through. Because when I journal is like taking the problem and putting it somewhere else....but the problem is still there. That make sense?

Not really. I can't just pick up a problem that I may have and place it in a container and pretend like nothing is wrong with me.

Also, when I'm feeling down, I have some VERY dark thoughts and writing about them only further reinforces them and makes me more compelled to act upon them.

reb569 · Jul 20, 2017 at 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trace14

<<is journaling about your feelings, no matter how potentially negative they are really healthy? >> This is why I started this thread. Not really sure if that's the best way, unless you bring them up with a professional to work through. Because when I journal is like taking the problem and putting it somewhere else....but the problem is still there. That make sense?

I found that when I was journaling during my daughter's hospitalizations that although a lot of what I wrote was very negative (self-blame, self-hate) that it did kind of help me work through the whole situation some, at least during the worst times when I basically couldn't function, so I think for me it was good. I mean at the time I couldn't verbalize what I was feeling and it was the only way I could express it. If I were to journal now? I'm not sure if expressing some of the negative thoughts would be helpful or if it would be triggering or what. I've thought about starting an electronic one, but I doubt I would do very good at keeping it up.

reb569 · Jul 20, 2017 at 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarknessIsMyFriend

Oh well, neat hand writing is less important than it's ever been. Most of the writing we do now days is digital and the print is becoming obsolete.

As long as you can write your signature and fill out basic paperwork, I don't see an issue with having poor penmanship in this digital age. One day, paperwork might even become obsolete in favor of a technology related alternative.

We live in interesting times, my friend

A lot of paperwork is being replaced by electronic forms and approvals now, at least in some areas. We have a huge project going on at work to move our huge pdf form library over to a highly secured electronic format. I'm not actually involved in it but some of my co-workers are. The amount of paper that will be saved once this system is fully implemented is mind-boggling.

I don't worry to much about my handwriting, except having to try to decipher it afterwards.

nyc artist · Jul 20, 2017 at 07:56 AM

I journal all the time, sometimes several times a day. My T suggested I write my entries like I'm writing directly to him and that really helps get the thoughts out of my head. It's calming. I haven't showed him my physical journals, although I would have no problem doing that, but if something came up while writing I talk to him about it. He also has me keep a record of my feelings/emotions every day and I do show him that each appointment.

Trace14 · Jul 20, 2017 at 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reb569

I found that when I was journaling during my daughter's hospitalizations that although a lot of what I wrote was very negative (self-blame, self-hate) that it did kind of help me work through the whole situation some, at least during the worst times when I basically couldn't function, so I think for me it was good. I mean at the time I couldn't verbalize what I was feeling and it was the only way I could express it. If I were to journal now? I'm not sure if expressing some of the negative thoughts would be helpful or if it would be triggering or what. I've thought about starting an electronic one, but I doubt I would do very good at keeping it up.

When I did journal it was my go to for expressing how I felt. I didn't do it every day just when I need to purge.

Trace14 · Jul 20, 2017 at 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nyc artist

I journal all the time, sometimes several times a day. My T suggested I write my entries like I'm writing directly to him and that really helps get the thoughts out of my head. It's calming. I haven't showed him my physical journals, although I would have no problem doing that, but if something came up while writing I talk to him about it. He also has me keep a record of my feelings/emotions every day and I do show him that each appointment.

That sounds like a great idea and plan. Good job!

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leomama Grand Magnate Member Since Feb 2014 Location: USA Posts: 4,703 10 172 hugs given	Jul 19, 2017 at 05:34 AM #23 Yeah, but lately haven't been feeling it.
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