[Keyplayer]

Hi Guy`s ,

Tonight I had my 2nd therapy session and at the end my T stated she wanted me to start journaling

I love to write , on my own , but being "suggested" too takes any enjoyment out of it.

The only way to really explain it is , after all my schooling was done , and my BS in Engineering was in hand , I learned far more since the web by using it than I ever did in any school. Why ? because no-one forced it on me ( so to speak ).

This journaling thing , she said it is and does help , does she read it , will I get graded at some point ? if not , whats the point ????

I did ask her if at some point she would read some of my works and she said she would and I replied , it might give you a better insight as to what makes me tick , but it`s not all G rated , some of my writings tell it like it was , and no feelings are withheld. She said all the better

She is a lovely young lady , but I need your help with this whole journaling deal , thanks a bunch

Later

KeyPlayer

[Mouse007]

Yeah it's moody, journaling is almost daily but usually works better when I am mad or trying to solve a problem...eventually you recognize patterns after a while

[Ellahmae]

Allowing myself to free write and let my T read it has been one of the largest tipping points (in a good direction) in my therapy. I take the suggested out of it and just make it a habit to write every morning for 10 mins and at night in the time I have. I meld it into my morning/nighttime "routines" and thus it just becomes whatever it is that I'm writing. My T isn't shocked by anything I write, nor is she grading it or repulsed, etc.

I'd say give it a go for a couple of weeks.

The Best.

[MobiusPsyche]

Some of the time, Journaling gets it out of me enough that I don't have to share it with my therapist. Other times, writing about it lets me clarify my thoughts and feelings enough that I can share them with T. Either way, it's been a good experience for me.

I've found that for me, journaling makes me ruminate more and I often feel worse than if I just didn't think about how I feel. Maybe that's supposed to be part of the therapeutic process? Either way, I know I'm in the minority here about journaling. I just find it more therapeutic (usually) to write fiction. My characters are exaggerated facets of my personality.

And you make me laugh. Worried about not being G-rated? If I REALLY wrote about what I thought about, at LEAST half of it would be X-rated. I'm not sure I'd like the idea of having a therapist read them though. Unless she were a sex therapist maybe.

All of that said, I did do some stream of conscious journaling on my own when I was working through The Artist's Way, but I just find it really hard to stick to. Might as well try it though.

[TrailRunner14]

Journaling was not something I did until I started speaking through stuff.

At first, it felt like I needed an agenda to write about but it changed.

My journal is what helps me sort everything out and keep order to it.

I do share what I write with my counselor, but it's my choice to share it not his to read it.

I would encourage you to try it. Just be open to what comes and write it. For me, writing it validates it.

In the end, YOU have the choice to share it with her or not. It's been a great thing for me.

[Daisy Dead Petals]

My T and I have dissimilar personalities. I am very inhibited in interpersonal situations. Journaling has helped us overcome these obstacles to the therapeutic process. My T now has a much better idea of how I think and feel and is able to tailor her interventions accordingly.

I don't like the forced, "homework" aspect of regular journaling either, so I only write when I feel the need to communicate. I use the app Journey.

[Mouse007]

Yeah we journal a lot...been 8 years of journaling so far...its useful for various things....I think I have paper journals every where, apps on my phone, and basically its whenever you have the need to put it down in writing for future reference

[Keyplayer]

Originally Posted by I.Am.The.End.

I've found that for me, journaling makes me ruminate more and I often feel worse than if I just didn't think about how I feel. Maybe that's supposed to be part of the therapeutic process? Either way, I know I'm in the minority here about journaling. I just find it more therapeutic (usually) to write fiction. My characters are exaggerated facets of my personality.

And you make me laugh. Worried about not being G-rated? If I REALLY wrote about what I thought about, at LEAST half of it would be X-rated. I'm not sure I'd like the idea of having a therapist read them though. Unless she were a sex therapist maybe.

All of that said, I did do some stream of conscious journaling on my own when I was working through The Artist's Way, but I just find it really hard to stick to. Might as well try it though.

LOL , I have written my thoughts out from a long time ago , not on a daily basis though. X- rated , mine I would say a sad R-rating , about the Vietnam crap / race wars , friends dying way before there time. It just sux sometimes.

I can write it for myself and I don`t think she will ever read my daily journal , but she said the same as the 2 previous posters wrote , that it will help clarify whats go`n down in your head , and maybe make some sense of it all.

My writings are dark , sad forboading , and far to often for real.

Maybe thats the stuff I have to dig out of my head so I can go on to live , I don`t know.

All I know is sometimes I can`t stop thinking , and other times I wish I had amnesia , crazy I know

I guess thats why I am finally getting help , something I wish I had done a long time ago , despite the journaling !! LOL

Hey guy`s , thanks so much for your continued support , you have no idea how much help all of you have given me , I only hope I can help.

I need to help , I feel that is the only way I will survive is to help , I don`1t want to die , I have seen to much death.

If I can ever help anyone reading this , please PM me

Take care , .

KP

I've never been able to journal since my mother read my journal when I was 10. My therapist wanted me to journal. Now, she's my ex therapist and she still does. She's gifted me to lovely journals, but to this day I hate writing. My therapist had to make do with a thousand emails in her inbox and whatever I wrote on forums. Emailing was very freeing for me.

You don't have to do a journal and if you do, you get to share or not share whatever you want from your journal. You are in control.

[Keyplayer]

Hi ,

Thank you , like I said it`s not the writing , I thought I was excepted to , but thanks to you guy`s it is advice I can either take or leave.

I think I will try it , at least for a couple of week , I am always using my Mac , so just adding a few words a day is a can do thing.

I she ever asked to read it , I would not care , and if I miss a day , it not going to be the end

She said it will help , at this point I will try anything , like I sad want times I don`t want to die , all I want is a happy life , I am just tired of all the sadness.

When I laugh or smile . I want to mean it , does that make any sense ?

I will go out of my way to help someone , anyone , and yet there is no lasting peace.

Anybody go at putting stuff back together ? maybe you can fix my head !! LOL

Later

KP

[stopdog]

It is possible to just tell the therapist no.

[Anastasia~]

KP-
I also ruminate a lot and sometimes I just type it all down. I write my journal in my email account, so if I decide to read it to T, I can access it by phone.

Sometimes I have nothing to day and don't write. Sometimes I write too much. If I can't think of anything, I will just start writing something like:
I am blank at the moment and can't think of what to say. I have no idea what I'm going to speak about in therapy. I hate having nothing to say.

Then T and I talk about me having nothing to say and how it makes me feel. Writing nothing can be something to talk about, lol.

I wouldn't worry about the content of your thoughts, just put them down on paper whether they be happy, sad, dark, xrated, etc. Therapists usually say it's all gist for the mill.

When I laugh or smile . I want to mean it , does that make any sense ?
Yes, it sounds like you actually want to feel happy instead of just looking that way. But that is just how I see it, I could be wrong.

The best advice I can give is just write down what you are thinking/how you are feeling, and somehow, in therapy, it ends up helping, or at least it did me.

Good luck! Keep us posted. Take care.

[Keyplayer]

Originally Posted by Anastasia~

KP-
I also ruminate a lot and sometimes I just type it all down. I write my journal in my email account, so if I decide to read it to T, I can access it by phone.

Sometimes I have nothing to day and don't write. Sometimes I write too much. If I can't think of anything, I will just start writing something like:
I am blank at the moment and can't think of what to say. I have no idea what I'm going to speak about in therapy. I hate having nothing to say.

Then T and I talk about me having nothing to say and how it makes me feel. Writing nothing can be something to talk about, lol.

I wouldn't worry about the content of your thoughts, just put them down on paper whether they be happy, sad, dark, xrated, etc. Therapists usually say it's all gist for the mill.

When I laugh or smile . I want to mean it , does that make any sense ?
Yes, it sounds like you actually want to feel happy instead of just looking that way. But that is just how I see it, I could be wrong.

The best advice I can give is just write down what you are thinking/how you are feeling, and somehow, in therapy, it ends up helping, or at least it did me.

Good luck! Keep us posted. Take care.

Hi , thanks for your reply , no you are not wrong , I want to be happy , everyone should be happy , but for some reason I am more sad that happy.
In fact I just wrote that today I feel sad , but I don`t know why.

Somewhere in my head is the reason , I just need away to find it and deal with it so I can be happy.

I am just way to messed up , I so wish I started therapy sooner , maybe that is why I feel sad , I don`t know.

But one thing I am so very sure of is , my want and need to be happy .

The other thing that brings me out of the darkness is you guy`s , and I thank you sooooo much !!



Later

KP

[DP_2017]

It is helpful. I wasn't keen on the idea at first either but I tried it and it is good for me.

I don't do it as often as I like, due to privacy concerns with people I live with but I do it when I can, I have also journaled every session I've ever had, the good, the bad, the funny, the useful etc. It helps to go back and reflect on the journey.

I've only read one journal thing out loud, not sure I'd ever read others but it has helped me be more open to sharing things with him since then.

[Keyplayer]

Hi DP_2017 ,

It has only ben a couple of days but I am still giving it a go.

Many have said it does not have to be a `story a day ` type of thing even a one word entry is enough to demonstrate your feels at any given time !!

Take care

KP

My therapist is of two minds on journals:

1. For some people, it is helpful as a way to get thoughts out of their head and perhaps bring some clarity.

2. For other people, it can actually become a fixation and create more rumination, so it might need to be limited.

He wanted me to journal more, but I honestly hate journalling. It's a bit ironic because I am an English teacher, but I've gotten to where I find journalling unhelpful and a chore. I used to journal all the time, but as I became more stable I found less use for it. I journal these days very briefly and not very deeply, but I've found a use for it -- just not something I spend a great deal of time on.

He wanted my husband to stop journalling because he fixated and ruminated so much that it was actually creating more problems for him. My husband has done much better since he stopped journalling and got out of his head space.