5 Ways Writing can Help Improve your Mental Health

By georgelthomas on 10 Jan 2023 • ( 0 )

Hi everyone! I hope you’re well. Today I’m talking about writing and mental well-being.

It’s no secret that a great many people struggle with their mental health. In fact, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), there has been a 13% rise in mental health conditions ad substance use disorders in the last ten years, with around 20% of the world’s children and adolescents having a mental health condition. Those are fairly bleak statistics. But what a lot of people don’t know is that writing can be a strong tool for managing mental health. From reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety to helping gain clarity on issues we don’t understand, this creative endeavour is a powerful tool that should not be overlooked.

With that, here are:

5 Ways Writing can Help Improve your Mental Health

1 Writing can Help to Provide Clarity and Perspective
When you’re dealing with something difficult, it can be hard to see the whole situation clearly. Writing can help you to organize your thoughts and feelings so that you can put them into some sort of order and start to make sense of them. This can be helpful in getting out of a negative headspace and seeing things from a new perspective.

2 Writing can be a Cathartic
Sometimes, all you need is to get everything that’s bothering you off your chest. Writing it all down and getting it out of your head can serve as a form of catharsis, allowing you to vent all your frustrations onto the page instead of bottling them up. Once it’s all out there, you might find that the situation is better than it at first seemed.

3 Writing can Help you to Set Goals and Track Progress
If you’re trying to make some changes in your life, whether it’s quitting smoking or losing weight, writing can help you to set realistic goals and track your progress. This can motivate you to keep going even when things get tough.

4 Writing can Help Boost Your Self-confidence
If you’re struggling with self-confidence, and low self-esteem, writing can be an excellent way to remind yourself of all the things that make you unique and special. When you write down your accomplishments, skills, and positive qualities, it can be easier to see yourself in a positive light, helping you learn to be more accepting of yourself.

5 Writing can be a Form of Self-care
Taking time out for yourself is so important, but it’s not always that easy to do. If you find it hard to make time for self-care, try incorporating it into your writing practice. For example, you could start each day by writing down three things that you’re grateful for or end each day by journaling about something good that happened during the day.

These are just some of the many ways writing can be helpful in maintaining and improving mental health.

If you find that you’re struggling with your own mental health, why not give writing a try? You may find it surprising how helpful it can be.

As always, thanks for spending some of your time here with me today, I really appreciate it.

Until next time,

George