When you were younger, you might have kept a diary stashed under your bed. Subsequently, it was a place to confess your efforts and worries and it probably gave you quite a relief to get all of your thoughts and feelings out of your head. However, although you may have stopped using a diary once you reached adulthood, the idea and its advantages still apply. Journaling is simply writing down your thoughts and feelings to understand them more clearly. As a result, keeping a journal is a fantastic idea if you struggle with stress, sadness, or anxiety because of your chronic illness. For instance, it can help you gain control of your emotions and improve your mental health.
The Benefits of Journaling
- Journaling helps you process your emotions: I feel a wide variety of emotions but writing gives me emotional freedom. As humans, we’re always in our heads, bouncing from one thought to the next but getting everything down on paper allows us to dig deeper and get a better understanding of our life.
- It’s a stepping stone to being more vulnerable: Journals are a private, honest space and as a result, you’re able to write things which you would be embarrassed revealing to others, or scared to admit to yourself. Most importantly, it is within your journal that you can set your whole self free. In other words, exploring the subjects that might frighten you, without judgement, is a means of embracing your vulnerability.
- Journaling helps you gain personal insights: When you reflect on the nature of each word you write, you start to ask yourself questions and make observations. Your writing is an excellent tool that can be used to show blocks, desires, worries, regrets, patterns, triggers, and more. During these discoveries, you become more aware of how you’re built, and why you are the way you are. This is extremely important because the first step to breaking a cycle is growing aware of it and journaling helps raise that awareness.
- Journaling allows you to witness your growth over time: The only thing that is guaranteed is change and, subsequently, you’re likely to see a change in the emotions and reflections portrayed through your writing over time. You can then revisit your deepest, rawest emotions during times of hardship, and times of bliss. In short, this is one of my favourite things about journaling – the opportunity to witness how the flesh of the pages has held space for your beautiful evolvement.
Journal Prompts
Here’s my list of daily prompts for those of us that suffer from chronic illness. Most importantly, there is enough to last you a whole month (30 days).
- Write a love letter to your body. What would you say to it as it experiences fear, uncertainty, pain, and anxiety?
- Who are you without chronic illness?
- Who are you with chronic illness?
- Imagine a safe space that is inviting, calming, and recuperating. For example, what does it look, feel, smell, and sound like?
- Describe your illness(es) and the lessons you have learned from your illness(es).
- Name three things that you are thankful for right now, in this very instance?
- What was your diagnosis journey like?
- What emotions are you feeling today and what is causing these emotions, exactly?
- Write down your current emotional, physical, and mental needs. Subsequently, how can you find ways to fulfil these needs during the day?
- In which ways do your mental health and your physical health relate? For instance, do you see changes in your pain or fatigue when you are stressed out?
- How do you maintain a balance in mind and body?
- What do you love about your body?
- What have you endured, survived, and conquered in your life despite your illness?
- Describe what it looks like when you show yourself compassion, patience, and love during challenging times? How does this benefit your body and mind?
- Picture yourself surrounded by joy. What is joy? What is its shape, colour, sound, or texture? Picture yourself being encompassed by it and held up in its arms. How do you feel? How does this help to provide support for your body and mind?
- Which things can rely on to help you find stress relief?
- What can you tell people to help them understand where you’re coming from during a flare-up?
- What do you need help with and is there something you’re not accepting help with?
- Can you reframe the way you’re feeling in some way? For example, can you view vulnerability as a strength?
- How do you let go of the thought ‘why me’?
- What work — no matter how seemingly ‘small’ — can you do to advocate for or contribute to the wellness of others who may be suffering?
- Write five things you want for your health, and one small step you’ll take to make progress towards those goals.
- They say there is a reason for everything. The reason for your chronic illness might be…
- Picture an environment of all-embracing healing. What does it look, feel, and smell like? Who is around you, and how do they help you?
- What little things make life easier?
- Name five things that you are very good at doing.
- Has humour played a role in life with your condition?
- What are the warning signs that your body gives to you?
- When do you feel most energetic?
- How do you recharge? What could you do to get more solid rest, even on busy or unwell days?
Let me know how you get on with these prompts. If you would like more, please contact me as I am always happy to create more for you.
This website does not provide medical advice. It is for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you have read on The Imperfect Cactus website. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your GP or dial 999.
Kelly Winter is a self-care guru from Stockport, Cheshire. You can contact her here at www.theimperfectcactus.com, on Instagram (@TheImperfectCactus), Facebook (@TheImperfectCactus) or Twitter (@ImperfectCactus). ‘The Guide to Boosting Self-Esteem‘ is Kelly’s debut self-help guide which is available on Amazon.