Lisa Shouldice MA, RP, CCP, Psychotherapist

When you are having intense feelings or going through a time of transformation, undergoing lots of changes, writing or journalling can be very helpful. Especially if you find yourself feeling preoccupied about something in your life.

The process of journalling about emotional topics engages both sides of the brain and helps to process in a different way than other tools you may use. Try this:

Sit in quiet, private space with the intention of writing for a half hour to one hour.

Take a moment to look inward and decide what topic has some emotional weight and/or has been on your mind. If you have been distressed about something or are grieving someone, this may be obvious and you are simply taking space to process it. This is your time.

Write in a stream of consciousness style without trying to worry about spelling, grammar etc. Try to simply let it flow. You may find it is awkward at first but it will loosen up.

You may be surprised at what you say. I find this is an important way to take time to process if you are going through something but need to get on with your life. Ex: you are going through a divorce and need to work and focus on your children. Rather than trying to stuff down your feelings or ignore them, try finding a space to write about these intense feelings. It will make getting through your day easier.