Post #5 – Women’s Memoirs, Writing and Healing
WRITING AND HEALING
Sharon Lippincott
It will come as no surprise to most memoirists or veteran journalers to hear that writing with blazing honesty about our deepest thoughts and emotions makes us feel better. Why else would we persist? What may not be so obvious is that this same writing that soothes and satisfies souls, pulls thorns from psyches, and calms turbulent relationships may also improve our physical health.
Back in the mid-1980s when James Pennebaker first began exploring the possibility that writing could bring about catharsis for trauma victims as effectively as talking, he had no idea he was planting seeds that would sprout into a vast body of research and lend scientifc credibility to writing forms that some may consider narcissistic.
Today more than 200 studies have confirmed that engaging in expressive writing (writing that specifically explores the writer’s personal feelings, opinions and beliefs) correlates strongly with enhanced immune and cardiovascular function, lower blood pressure, fewer doctor visits, along with reduced symptoms of stress-related illnesses and many chronic disorders. These physical benefits are in addition to emotional health benefits already recognized.
Most of the early projects had people write about traumatic or upsetting events or memories for 20 minutes a day for four days. More recent studies began altering variables and are confirming that a single writing session can produce similar benefits. Even better, they are finding that writing about happy memories, experiences, hopes and dreams is also powerful.
Nobody has clearly determined why this works, but Pennebaker’s more recent computer-based analysis of thousands of writing samples has yielded some clues. He has found that people who include lots of words describing emotions and feelings generally experience stronger improvements in immune function and other physical health indicators. More importantly, those people who begin by expressing negative emotions and move through a process of insight and acceptance to express more positive ones have the strongest results.
These findings would be reason enough to redouble our writing efforts, lacing our prose with emotion and reflection, writing our way from darkness to light. That’s a worthwhile goal even if you write in secret. It will pay bonus dividends of another sort when you write for a wider audience. Liberal splashes of reflection, emotion, and feelings form strong connections with readers to keep them turning those pages while also improving your health.
To unlock these benefits, spend some time expanding and refining your vocabulary of descriptive terms for emotions. If you want to jump-start the process, download a list of 1100 Ways to Describe Your Feelings. Try keeping a mini-journal for several days or weeks and record emotions and related physical sensations as soon as you become aware of them. Do some writing practice to develop metaphors and similes for these feelings. Focus on feelings in your regular journal, and weave them into structured writing projects. Your body, soul and readers will benefit from these efforts.
Photo by Sarahemcc
