For over 20 years, medical researchers
and psychologists have been studying the effects of written
disclosure—journaling—on health. As a result,
we know that expressing ourselves through writing has a measurably
positive effect on both healthy people and patients suffering
from illness. Expressive writing can shape, mold and recast
human experience. It can reduce stress and increase healing.
Write
Your Self Well is a low-risk, low-cost, therapeutic
journal that offers the proven health benefits of expressive
writing to all patients/clients and caregivers suffering
from the effects of chronic or acute illness. If patients
and clients journal, they can:
• Reduce stress
• Experience fewer symptoms
• Strengthen their immune
systems
• Shorten recovery periods
• Reduce pain and pain medications
• Improve family relationships
• Strengthen relationships
with healthcare professionals
• Increase patient/client
satisfaction
Responses to journaling …
From a patient/client:
"Well, I tried writing in it a couple of times and
felt much better. It's all about how journaling can help
you feel better. It talks about how asking patients to write
about good and bad things that happened to them can help
medical treatment work better."
From
a colleague: "A patient was scared to death
before his operation, but once he wrote about his feelings,
he was much more relaxed, less stressed and recovered more
easily."
From
a nurse: "It was easier to take care of a
difficult patient once she started to tell her troubles
to her journal. One of the quotes reminded my patient of
a similar situation in her own life, and once she wrote
about it, she was more peaceful, less angry and easier to
manage."
From
a physician: "I flipped through the book and
this caught my eye—
'I
can still smell the dune grass, dry and sticky like tack.
The
sand between my toes.'
The quote took
my attention back to a day at the seashore with my family.
I was running into the water and jogging down the beach.
I noticed my stomach felt more relaxed, and I remembered
a special hug my daughter gave me that day."
That's the way
it works with clients, too. Their stress is reduced; they
are not in as much pain; they can think more clearly; and
they can communicate more easily. They may even tell you
things about their lives that help you understand and treat
them more effectively. Write Your Self Well is
a valuable adjunctive therapy to medical and alternative
treatments.
How
should I introduce Write Your Self Well to
patients?
• As a gift, a marketing promotion or a publication
available for purchase. It is one way to help them
help themselves to health.
• Explain that, though in many cases journaling
has been a valuable adjunct to treatment, it does
not replace therapeutic care. They must still continue
to follow protocol.
• It should be clear that their privacy is of
primary importance to you. Whether or not they share
their experience of journaling with you is strictly
their decision.
• However, you would like to know whether they
find journaling helpful and will answer any questions
they have about the process.
• Lastly, if, as a result of journaling, they
want to talk to a professional to explore some personal
issues, you can make a referral. |
What types of patients
are most likely to benefit from the journal?
The literature varies. However,
results have been demonstrated in patients who are:
• Suffering from viral infections,
cancer, chronic immunological conditions and chronic
illnesses
• Going through life transitions such as aging,
menopause, personal crises and life changes
• Suffering from chronic worry, fear or anxiety
• Open to or involved in complementary and alternative
medicine
• From a variety of cultural, economic and social
backgrounds |
What types of patients/clients
would not be likely to benefit from journaling?
• Patients with ongoing psychiatric
disorders or ongoing psychotherapy should journal
with the consent and under the supervision of a therapist.
• Patients unable to write because of physical
limitations.
Why should I offer Write
Your Self Well to my clients/patients? |
Bottom Line...
Write Your Self
Well can help you:
- be more productive
- improve relationships with patients and clients
- help patients and clients get well faster
- promote your practice
References
The
following references may prove useful to you in exploring
the integration of journaling into your treatment plan.
We also invite you to write to us with your questions
and comments or to inquire about discounted bulk purchases
of Write Your Self Well…Journal Your Self to Health.
1. Antoni, M.H. (1999). Empirical studies of emotional
disclosure in the face of stress: a progress report.
ADVANCES: The Journal of Mind/Body Medicine. 15: 163 –
165.
2. Bachelard, G. (1960). The poetics of reverie: Childhood,
language and the cosmos. Boston: Beacon Press.
3. Bachelard, G. (1958). The poetics of space: The classic
look at how we experience intimate places. Boston: Beacon
Press.
4. Dienstfrey, H. (1999). Disclosure and health: an interview
with James W. Pennebaker,
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Rational Island Publishers.
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How expressive writing promotes
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Association.
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perspectives on clinical theory and practice: Medicine,
neuropsychiatry and psychoanalysis. Berlin, New York:
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9. Lutgendorf, S. & Ullrich, P. (2002). Something
to write home about: Journaling can help after trauma.
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Thought and image. New York: Holt.
11. Pavio, A. (1990). Mental Representations. New
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12. Pennebaker, J.W. (1999). Inhibition, disclosure and
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13. Pennebaker, J.W. (1997). Opening up: The healing
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14. Pennebaker, J.W. (2002). Emotion, disclosure &
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184.
20. Smyth, J., Stone, A., Hurewitz, A., & Kaell, A.
(1999). Effects of writing about
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Further Reading
1. Adams, C. (1999).
A woman of wisdom: honoring & celebrating who you
are. Berkeley, CA: Celestial Arts.
2. Adams, Kathleen. (1990). Journal
to the self: Twenty-two paths to personal growth. New
York: Warner Books, Inc.
3. Adams, Kathleen. (1998). The way
of the journal: A journal therapy workbook for healing.
Baltimore, MD: The Sidran Press.
4. Albert, S. Wittig. (1996). Writing
from life: Telling your soul's story: a journey of self-discovery
for women. New York: Jeremy P. Tarcher/Putnam, Penguin
Putnam, Inc.
5. Albom, M. (2003). The five people
you meet in heaven. New York: Hyperion.
6. Allen, R. (2003). The playful way
to knowing yourself. New York: Houghton Mifflin.
7. Ban Breathnach, S. (1996). Simple
abundance journal of gratitude. New York: Warner Books.
8. Bateson, M. (1989). Composing a
life. New York: Grove Press.
9. Bowers, S. C., & Norman, J. W.
(1987). A woman's journal: A step-by-step journey to
recovery. Asheville, NC: Appalachian Hall.
10. Cameron, J. & Collins, J. (2002).
Walking in this world: The practical art of creativity.
New York: Tarcher/Putnam, Penguin Putnam, Inc.
11. Capacchione, L. (2002). The creative
journal: The art of finding yourself. Franklin Lakes,
NJ: New Page Books, Division of the Career Press.
12. Charman, R. (1992). At risk: Can
the doctor-patient relationship survive in the high-tech
world? Dublin, NH: William L. Bauhan, Publisher.
13. Dass, R. (2000). Still here: Embracing
aging, changing, and dying. New York: Riverhead Books/Penguin
Putnam Inc.
14. Davis, M., Eshelman, E. & McKay,
M. (2000). The relaxation and stress reduction workbook.
Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, Inc.
15. Dayringer, R. (1998). The heart
of pastoral counseling: Healing through relationship.
New York: Haworth Personal Press, Inc.
16. De Salvo, L. (1999). Writing as
a way of healing: How telling our stories transforms our
lives. Boston, MA: Beacon Press.
17. Gerteis, M., Edgman-Levitan, S., Daley,
J., & Delbanco, T.L. (1993). Through the patient's
eyes: Understanding and promoting patient-centered care.
San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers.
18. Greenspan, M. (2004). Healing through
the dark emotions: The wisdom of grief, fear, and despair.
Boston & London: Shambhala.
19. Gunther, J. (1949) Death be not
proud. New York: Harper Perennial.
20. Hagan, K. L. (1988). Internal affairs:
A journal keeping workbook for self-intimacy. Atlanta,
GA: Escapadia Press.
21. Hardin, P. (1992) What are you
doing with the rest of your life? Choices in midlife.
San Rafael, CA: New World Library.
22. Heilbrun, C. (1998). The last gift
of time: Life beyond sixty. New York: The Dial Press,
Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc.
23. Kaye, R. (1991). Spinning straw
into gold: Your emotional recovery from breast cancer.
New York: Fireside, Simon and Schuster.
24. Keel, Philipp. (1998). All about
me. New York: Broadway Books.
25. Kessler, D. (1997). The rights
of the dying: A companion for life's final moments.
New York: HarperCollins Publishing, Inc.
26. Leder, D. (1997). Spiritual passages:
Embracing life's sacred journey. New York: Jeremy P.
Tarcher/Putnam.
27. Luke, H. (1987). Old age: Journey
into simplicity. New York: Parabola Books.
28. Miller, D. (2003). Your surviving
spirit: A spiritual workbook for coping with trauma.
Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, Inc.
29. Moore, N. & Komras, H. (1993).
Patient-focused healing: Integrating caring and curing
in health care. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers.
30. Paivio, A. (1971). Imagery and
verbal processes. New York: Holt.
31. Rich, P. (1999). The healing journey
through grief: Your journal for reflection and recovery.
New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
32. Rybarczyk, B. & Bellg, A. (1997).
Listening to life stories: A new approach to stress intervention
in health care. New York: Springer Publishing Company.
33. Sark. (1993). Sark's journal and
play! book: A place to dream while awake. Berkeley,
CA: Celestial Arts.
34. Schachter-Shalomi, Z. & Miller,
R. (1995). From age-ing to sage-ing: A profound new vision
of growing older. New York: Warner Books.
35. Segalove, I. & Velick. P. (1996).
List your self: Listmaking as the way to self-discovery:
A provocative, probing and personal expedition into your
mind, heart and soul. Kansas City: Andrews and McMeel,
A Universal Press Syndicate Co.
36. Sheehy, L. (2000). I haven't talked
about this before: The story of a family's journey into
the world of cancer. Winter Park, FL: Four Seasons Publishers,
Inc.
37. Starkman, E. (1993). Learning to
sit in the silence: A journal of caretaking. Watsonville,
CA: Papier-Mache Press.
38. Zimmermann, S. (2002). Writing
to heal the soul: Transforming grief and loss through writing.
New York: Three Rivers Press.
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