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

[quirkywords]

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?

[Guest_294]

Hello! I also have been really struggling with the overwhelming feeling of what has happened in Australia since this past summer. It just doesn’t seem comprehensible to me. And so I have turned to journaling. In two capacities. The first is a gratitude journal that I have been trying to keep daily. It worked well for a couple months, I have been a little less consistent now, but it’s really helped me to just make daily lists of the things in my life that I am really truly grateful for. Common features include my loving boyfriend so has been so amazing in spite of us having to be in an unplanned LDR. Also, my amazing family, my photography and drawing hobbies, and the luck Australia has had in slowing the virus as much as we have. Of course I have also been journaling more broadly, though this is an even more infrequent habit. For the most part I use this on really bad days. Days where I just feel like crying and just need to communicate the thoughts outside of my own head. Both of these things have been so vital for my mental health I think. On bad days, I can write the bad stuff and then I usually write again when I’m feeling more positive and it helps me to rebalance my thoughts. This is such a stressful time but keeping note of good things in the world and checking in on myself with the bad has been amazing. Hope it has been as helpful for others xx

[quirkywords]

Guest

thanks for sharing your experience and explaining how journaling has h eloped you

writing can be healing.

[quirkywords]

Do you think words and writing down ones feelings can sometimes bring up more feelings and instead of getting it of our chest it makes us dwell more on our problems?

[Guest_294]

I think sometimes it does - sometimes I’ll sit there writing and it just makes me feel so heavy with emotion, especially on really bad days. But in saying that, it’s also an interesting record. This whole experience has made me feel a lot of subconscious pressure and anxiety and it’s left me feeling very fragile emotionally. Often, a diary entry will be a proclamation of anger or frustration or distress, and then it’s only hours later that I’m writing again to say “probably should’ve waited a minute before I wrote, in hindsight it’s really not so bad” and can reflect on the reality of the situation in response to my initial emotion. But I’m a reasonably calculated person and I respond best when I methodically work through my emotions and experiences. I can imagine it could be quite draining for some.

[quirkywords]

Guest I like the way you have reflected 5he way you write in a diary and the change your mind, thank for contributing your post,

[quirkywords]

Words that can help us or ruin us and others,
How do wotds help you to cope during these difficult times,Can you find the words you need to nelp yourself get through the days,
Are words enough toe press how frustrated you feel how you wanrto scream And you to make everything better and more peaceful.Hhow are words he,ling you .
How are words helping you everyday .

are words enough for you or do you need something else.

[quirkywords]

Hello all

do you find writing posts honestly helps you see your problems easier and helps you to gain insights into ones behaviour.

[Ggrand]

Hello Quirky..

When I first joined Beyond Blue...I was a mashed up mess...Quirky you and WK were one of the first people to help me..I hadn’t spoken nor seen anyone for months before I spoke on here..

I can say with complete honesty that listening to the words that were written/spoken to me was a life saver for me..and I am sure many others here as well.....From the reader of the words spoken here...yes they definitely 100% help..

The ones talking on here are giving most people they speak to their hope back...Their lives back...guiding them in the right direction...So I would definitely say yes... For me writing out my thoughts/ insight into words for others, I hope I am helping them as much as I am helping myself...

I think most of us here are struggling with our mental health and me/us listening to other struggling people’s conversations that’s going on in different threads are also helping us/me to understand and learn different things each day...about my mental health..

I feel it works both ways....Other people’s writing helps me..and I hope my writing helps others...

My care and kind thoughts dear Quirky..

Grandy.l

[quirkywords]

Grandy

thanks For your honesty and explaining how do you felt when you join the forms ,

it is good to hear how other people’s words helped you because it can be hard at first knowing what to write and whether anyone’s actually reading them or if they help .

I think words are powerful and helpful and I’m really glad you have found your own voice and have been helping other people for a long time.

[quirkywords]

Hello all

Does anyone use writing to write through their pain?

If you feel very confused or are struggling have you tried writing out your feelings so you can make sense of your jumbled thoughts.m