topic Words: Friends or Foe? How can writing help you. in Staying well

Words: Friends or Foe? How can writing help you.

quirkywords — Tue, 01 May 2018 07:46:46 GMT

People can be afraid of words as they have no confidence in what they write. Maybe at school teachers have said negative things about their writing or their parents have said they don't write well.

Some people are anxious to write their first post as they wonder if they will make sense to others.

I believe words are your friends and everyone who can read this can write in meaningful way.

I want to look at how writing can help you

1) by helping you to explain and express your feelings to others

2) allowing you to connect to others through your words

3) by keeping a journal or starting a thread here and learn from your own writing and read others.

4) by helping you work out how to change certain behaviours

and many more we can share with each other.

To start at the beginning : Are words your friend or foe?

When you see a blank page or screen are you filled with fear or are you excited at the challenge.

Does writing words down help you more or in a different way to speaking them?

Everyone is welcome to contribute, first time posters , regulars, people who don't like writing , people who find they go the character limit for the post every time.

Write on

Quirky

PS writing in this context is same as typing , or using voice to text.

I want to look at how words can help you express your thoughts and emotions?

Words: Friends or Foe? How can writing help you.

Tams20 — Tue, 01 May 2018 08:08:35 GMT

Hi Quirky,

Good thread idea, considering we all have to write a response 😊

I’m much better at writing about my feelings and thoughts than speaking about them. I’ve always been like that, when I was a teen I kept a detailed diary (would be an interesting read now actually!). I’m excellent at small-talk, but when the topic gets a bit too close to home I shut down and am outta there!

I have a good friend who is a great talker (a bit of an over-sharer) and isn’t good at writing messages, texts, emails etc. I’m the complete opposite - as you can imagine that can lead to some frustrations on both sides! But we understand each other well enough to know our limitations.

My writing is generally quite succinct - I’m no wordsmith and could never be a novelist - but it’s defintely my preferred form of communication.

Tams

Words: Friends or Foe? How can writing help you.

quirkywords — Tue, 01 May 2018 08:22:51 GMT

Tams,

Thanks for your reply.

It is funny how we put ourselves down about our writing. I think if we can communicate our feelings to others with our words , we have done well.

Quirky

Words: Friends or Foe? How can writing help you.

Summer Rose — Tue, 01 May 2018 11:43:19 GMT

Hi Quirky

Awesome post. I believe that you have highlighted a powerful healing tool that is often overlooked and deserves greater respect. I am grateful for your thread.

I must, however, confess my bias: words are my life. I write everyday and couldn't live without my library.

There is no better way to focus your thoughts or crystallize your meaning than to put words to paper. It releases pain, creates beauty and unleashes wisdom. It can be frustrating at times but once a writer-any writer- opens up and surrenders to the process it's magic.

I am with you, write on

Words: Friends or Foe? How can writing help you.

Quercus — Tue, 01 May 2018 15:06:37 GMT

Hello Quirky and Tams and Summer Rose and anyone planning to join the writing fest 😊

Writing is one of the best therapies I think. Each week for almost a year I go to the psychiatrist for psychotherapy. And then have used my thread or the forums in general to write and sort out my feelings about the topics raised.

Writing things down is a great way to organise a chaotic mind.

Also... I find the act of handwriting very relaxing. When they were alive I would write to my Grandparents weekly. Pages of gossip and silly things and laughter and a smidgen of troubles to ask advice for. I've done this most of my life. I miss writing to them. Typing is good but handwritten notes are even better.

Great thread as always Quirky!

❤ Nat

Words: Friends or Foe? How can writing help you.

Summer Rose — Tue, 01 May 2018 23:04:56 GMT

Hi Quercus

Your post triggered happy memories for me ...

Arriving in Australia from Canada some thirty years ago, letters were my primary form of communication to friends and family back home. I loved writing them and loved receiving them even more. Over time, the cost of phone calls reduced, email burst onto the scene and then Skype changed the entire game. Not surprisingly, my letter writing dwindled.

Today my only correspondent is child in Africa, whom our family sponsors. The sense of excitement to receive on of his hand written letters is still very real for me. When his letters arrive our family usually gathers to hear news from his village and discuss our response.

Letters are very important healing tools, too. I have used letters to communicate with various people whilst experiencing relationship issues. Sometimes to break the ice, sometimes to better express my feelings. I have even written letters to myself to capture how I am feeling at a particular point in time, in relation to a particular issue, and then hidden them away. Sometimes, when I need to remind myself why I made a particular decision or why I chose a particular path, I go back and read these letters. They are always hand written.

I think there's something special that happens when we pick up a pen but I don't know what to call it. Any ideas?

Words: Friends or Foe? How can writing help you.

quirkywords — Wed, 02 May 2018 01:24:05 GMT

Hello everyone and welcome to the joy of writing and words,

Summer Rose,

I relate to what you wrote. Words are my life, reading, writing talking and listening.

Nat, I agree Writing things down is a great way to organise a chaotic mind.

Though for me it sometimes makes things more chaotic as I ramble on even in my writing.

Alas as I am messy and untidy I was glad when computers came along because I could type whole pages. No one can read my writing , even I can't. In my shop no can read the prices so I had to change to a pricing tool .

I blame my chubby fingers.

Summer Rose,

I agree with the wonder of letters .

I am envious of you and Nat"s love and mastery of handwriting. No matter how hard I try my writing looks like a 2 year olds scribble.

I think it is magic when 26 letters which is not a lot can produce poems and plays and speeches and stories. That is magic of letters.

Quirky

Words: Friends or Foe? How can writing help you.

Quercus — Wed, 02 May 2018 15:24:20 GMT

Hi Quirky and Summer Rose,

There is something about handwriting. Or written words (even if they are "chicken scrawl" as my Grandma called her handwriting).

In ten years time if my kids read these words they will give them an insight into who I am as a human being. But somehow it doesn't feel quite so personal.

I have a box of letters I have kept. From my family and friends and husband. And sometimes when I feel alone I fish out a letter. It reminds me not only of the individual style (how they spoke, phrases they used) but also of their physical selves.

I can touch the paper. Trace the letters. I see how my Grandma's handwriting changed as she got older and had trouble with her wrists. My Grandad eventually took over the writing and she did the PS at the end.

Plus there is my obsession with the old stamps which my Grandma encouraged in me.

Those letters mean a lot to me because they are a physical reminder that someone loved me enough to sit and write without editing like we do now. They gave me their time and care faults and all.

So yes. Words are important. Words that bring back memories like yours and mine Summer Rose... Those are a gift.

Words: Friends or Foe? How can writing help you.

quirkywords — Thu, 03 May 2018 06:59:52 GMT

Hello people who like words,

Nat, you make the art of writing letters sound so sentimental.

There was a song by Eric Bolge that wrote about little scraps of paper. It was about how Fafter his dad died he found little scraps of paper that his dad had written on. His father never told him the emotions he felt that he wrot eon the paper. Such an emotional song. Every time I see scraps of paper with writing on them I think of the person who wrote them and how precious those words are.

I would like to know when people find writing a chore and not a joy.?

For me it was writing essays or school reports.

Quirky

Words: Friends or Foe? How can writing help you.

Lici — Thu, 03 May 2018 07:38:13 GMT

Hi quirky,

I have loved writing ever since I learnt how! I wrote poetry in my teens to help me navigate my way through depression and although they never saw the light of day, they were my therapy at the time.

I then went through a period where I didn't write anything for years. I just didn't have the inspiration or inclination to bother with it.

Now I'm studying a double major of psychology and creative writing and I'm constantly writing. I've written fiction pieces, scientific papers and now for creative writing we're focusing on non fiction. I'm about to start a personal essay assignment and have decided to use my PTSD experience as the topic. I'm rather nervous but I think it will be therapeutic.

In reply to your question on when people find writing a chore or a joy... I love writing the creative pieces but I find essays and scientific papers at uni such a chore! Sometimes I think uni has almost destroyed my love of reading and writing lol

I wonder if anyone here has ever written a personal essay or knows what they are? I had never heard of them before this class, but trauma and mental health seems to be a running theme with a lot of personal essayists. I think writing your story in the form of an actual story for someone else to read is a really interesting concept.

Lici

Words: Friends or Foe? How can writing help you.

Summer Rose — Thu, 03 May 2018 07:42:11 GMT

Hi Quirky

I write a lot of notes at home, which has become a chore. I have two 20-something young adults at home who are both university students. I'm told they're bright but if I don't leave a note to remind them to empty the dishwasher or walk the dog or hang the washing up nothing gets done!

At work, writing anything technical is a chore. I write a lot at work--speeches, reports, information bulletins, strategy papers, etc--and I enjoy it. But the really technical things I despise. I've been writing a lot of standard operating procedures lately and it bores me to tears. There is no room for creativity or nuance. I procrastinate and dawdle and have to force myself to concentrate. The whole process is joyless and completely in congruent with my normal experience.

Words: Friends or Foe? How can writing help you.

quirkywords — Thu, 03 May 2018 09:57:27 GMT

Hello writers of word,

umber Rose, I think I keep post it notes in business. I have notes to myself, notes in books, notes for my partner.

I think I would really procrastinate if I had to write a standard operating procedure.

I write a media release for a committee I volunteer on, and I find it very hard as it flows a plan and is not creative.

Thanks for your post.

Quirky

Words: Friends or Foe? How can writing help you.

smallwolf — Thu, 03 May 2018 11:05:42 GMT

Tagged.

Sometimes I can express what I want to say in written form better than verbally. In written form my thought come out in a sequential manner, whereas verbally I might have 3 ideas to communicate at once. From a therapy perspective, writing is perfect to get thoughts out of my head, as a release mechanism.

Tim

Words: Friends or Foe? How can writing help you.

Summer Rose — Thu, 03 May 2018 12:56:22 GMT

Hi Quirky

I hear you about writing media releases ... inverted pyramid style gets boring after awhile. Written many.

I think I preferred it when I was on the other side of the fence (early in my career). Particularly enjoyed a stint as a radio reporter. Writing for the ear is a different kind of challenge once again. Have you or anyone else ever tried it?

Words: Friends or Foe? How can writing help you.

Summer Rose — Thu, 03 May 2018 13:06:45 GMT

Hi Lici

I agree that writing your MI story for someone else to read in an essay is an interesting concept.

I have tried to write my mental health story as a novel many times but can't. I feel too exposed, too vulnerable. It is also very confronting.

Instead I have chosen to build charcters, setting or context using my experience for different pieces of work. I think it's easier to be a bit detached. I hope you have better luck than me. Let us know how you get on.

Words: Friends or Foe? How can writing help you.

Lici — Thu, 03 May 2018 13:29:38 GMT

Hi Summer Rose,

I definitely wouldn't be able to write a novel on my experiences, it would be way too daunting for me!

The essay I have to write is 3000 words so I really have to think about what to include and what not to etc. The interesting aspect of creative nonfiction and personal essays is that it has all the aspects of fiction writing. I have to include scenes, it has to follow a plot and it has to have character and voice etc. I think those aspects is what will help me detach enough to be able to tell my story.

They also follow a theme of dealing with a personal issue that speaks to a broader issue (or universal issue as they put it) so I think choosing my experience with PTSD will speak to broader issues without even really needing to think on it too much.

I'll definitely let you know how it goes, it's due next month so I won't be starting it for a little while as I have 2 psychology assignments due first. More reading of journal articles that are bland and boring (sigh).

Hope you're having a good night 🙂

Kind regards,

Lici

Words: Friends or Foe? How can writing help you.

quirkywords — Thu, 03 May 2018 22:23:09 GMT

Hello wordsmiths,

Smallwolf, I agree that the written form is easier to organise. When I speak I ofte ramble- imagine that. Writing as a release mechanism , that is so true. I see it when people start writing posts and they gain more perspective and confidence which each post.

Summer Rose, I wrote a few pieces for the local radio station - just personal things. Sometimes I would do it off the cuff but then I would ramble so I would write it out and use it is a guideline so it had structure and spontaneity- well that was the plan! I once wrote a short radio play too.

Lici, sorry I missed your first post. I like your avatar.

Thanks for answering my question. When I was studying I was a bad student as I would read anything but the texts or books I was supposed to!! I use to say that studying literature at school or uni would put people off novels for life!!

In regards to your personal essay. This may not be the same, but I give talks for BB about my lived experience and while ot an essay I construct a narrative of my experience. By writing it helps memakes sense of my past and write it in such a way it helps others.

I think your essay sounds like a very useful experience. Like Summer rose I am interested in how it goes.

I found writing and talking about things can bring up issues you have not thought of for a while so it is importnat to practice self care. May be even keeping a notebook while you write the essay just to be aware of any reactions you have. I am sure you know all that, I wanted to helpful and not patronising!

Thanks Lici, Summer Rose, Smallwolf, Quercus . Tams for your posts and all those reading, nodding and now thinking about their writing.

Write on!

Quirky

Words: Friends or Foe? How can writing help you.

Summer Rose — Fri, 04 May 2018 00:20:04 GMT

Hi Quirky

Wow! A radio play. How amazing. I'm wondering what inspired you? What was it about?

Actually I'm also looking for advice about inspiration, too. I've only been active on the forums a short time and would like to be able to start interesting threads like this one. I've tried a couple of times without great success but don't want to throw in the towel just yet. So, what makes a good thread?

Words: Friends or Foe? How can writing help you.

quirkywords — Fri, 04 May 2018 01:45:30 GMT

Hello to everyone

Summer Rose.

think it is something that interests you?

t can be a question?

Look at threads you like and see what it is you like about them.

It depends if you want a personal thread and get help and ideas and support, or one like this where it is a general topic that people can discuss.

White Knight, writes heaps of interesting threads, you could ask him on one of his threads.

Maybe I slightly exaggerated about the radio play.

On a radio evening show they asked people to write a short episode of a funny police show episode, mine was the case of the missing mummy!! There was formula and listeners just wrote their own using the formula.

I did not mean to mislead well maybe I did!!

2 of my children came into the radio studio and played 2 children.

So a radio play maybe a bit of an exaggeration.

Quirky

Words: Friends or Foe? How can writing help you.

Lici — Fri, 04 May 2018 03:14:29 GMT

Hi quirky,

Thanks! My avatar is a picture I took a month or so ago

I don't think I've read a whole book or textbook in the 2 and a half years I've been at uni lol. Actually that's a lie, we had a science fiction book and Carrie by Stephen king as set books, I was happy to read those! Everything else I struggle with though! Mrs Dalloway was like reading the literary equivalent of a dusty attic or watching paint dry! Psychology papers are difficult to get through too!

I think that your BB talks would be a lot like a personal essay, especially if you write down your speech, it would probably read exactly like one, or pretty close to it! I can't imagine speaking in public like that, I'd die! It's bad enough when I want to say something in class lol

Thanks for the notebook idea! You didn't sound patronising at all, I hadn't actually thought about keeping a notebook handy as I usually just write my assignments on the computer. I think that will be super handy to have. I've recently started to track my anxiety symptoms in my study journal so maybe I can put a few pages aside to write down my reactions when writing my essay. Thanks so much!

I'll definitely keep you all updated 🙂 It will be an interesting experience. I haven't had some of the more nasty PTSD symptoms for a while, so I'm hoping that writing about it won't trigger them.

Hope you have a great day!

Kind regards,

Lici