Using writing as therapy
With all this unexpected time on your hands, you may be looking for new ways to occupy your mind. Though you may have never considered it before, using writing as therapy can be a great way to keep your thoughts and emotions in check. Whether it’s writing a daily diary, poetry or penning your own story, writing is very cathartic and can help to focus your mind.
Often, people find that writing helps them delve into previously unmanaged feelings and emotions and seeing them in black and white can help to lift the burden. Letters and e-mails are further good examples of writing therapy – allowing the words to flow onto the page and helping to clear your mind. Whether you choose to send the end result to another person or not isn’t important, it’s the act of expression that really counts.
You may never have considered yourself a writer but research shows everyone can benefit from writing about their thoughts and feelings in a place that’s safe and non-judgmental.
In 2018, some of our clients used writing to help express their journey through cancer by contributing to our journal, This is Me. Each had a different and courageous story to tell and the journal invites others to do the same by recording their daily thoughts, reflecting and making plans. Copies of the journal can be purchased, to find more information about how to order your copy, click here.
How to incorporate writing into your life
- Write a daily diary or journal
- Write letters or e-mails
- Write a fictional story
- Write an autobiography
- Write a poem
- Write a script
- Write a recipe book
- Write a comedy sketch
- Write lyrics to your own song
- Write a feature on a subject you’re interested in or knowledgeable about
And if you’d like to share your writing with others, you could always do that in our online support group. If you’d prefer to share anonymously, email what you’ve written to marketing@wessexcancer.org.uk and we can share it anonymously on your behalf.