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Writing As A Form Of Therapy

SilenusSenior Contributor12 Apr 2016, 3:14 pm AEST

Writing As A Form Of Therapy

Hi all,

I have found throughout the course of my life that writing has been a constant companion to me. It has provided me with a way to vent my frustrations, to grapple with the eternal verities of life that confound and delight me, to explore ideas and concepts, and to try to put into words the often chaotic moods and thoughts that result from having a mind that's a little bit odd...

I have written lots of poems, especially in the last 3 or 4 years, dealing with depression and bipolar. They help me to process and understand some of the things that are happening in this twisted little noodle of mine. As such, writing has become one of my main forms of therapy.

One of the best things that I find about writing is that it can act as a kind of mood diary. I can read things that I had previously written, and it will quite often map out where I was at during the time of writing. The words I spread across the page act as signposts of my progress, too. As my self knowledge increases and my life journey progresses, I find that it affects how I write and what I write...

Often, we do not see the thousands of tiny little changes to our selves that our life experiences cause over the years. It can be very helpful to re-read old writings, in order to see how far we have come, what we have improved, where we have fallen back into old harmful habits, and the things that we have learned.

The language that we use in our writings and in our thoughts and in our speech is very important. It can reveal a lot about our selves, our states of mind, and our moods...

That language, it can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. I believe that we attract certain kinds of people around us, and create (or at least influence) life situations based on our choice of language. It helps define who we are as a person.

Negative thinking, self-deprecation, self-hatred, these sorts of dangerous life traps are often revealed in our choice of words. So too are the positive things. It all starts with a glass. How we describe the glass and the quantity and quality of its contents, that's where language comes into it, and it can shape our very lives and the lives of those around us.

Writing... it is my solace and my main tool of self-analysis. It is my favourite form of therapy...

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In response to: Writing As A Form Of Therapy

MazaritaSenior Contributor23 Mar 2018, 7:57 am AEDT

Re: Writing As A Form Of Therapy

@Silenus, I was a very angry person when younger. I relate to what you say about seeking the calm beneath the storm, in the depths of the ever moving body of ocean that is ourselves, our mind, heart and spirit. There, where the tides are slower, the movements more profound. It doesn't matter if we are on medication or not. Those deeper places are still there, I have found.

I also relate to what you and @Appleblossom write about questioning whether coping mechanisms work in an ongoing way, especially in relation to writing. In 1990 I wrote my way through a major breakdown and a year of suicidal feelings. I was an obsessive writer, a crazy writer. Beyond that I diarised, 'free' wrote and recorded dreams over decades, rarely sharing the writing with anyone, except to use small fragments as the basis for honed and finished creative works that I did share, and still do to this day.

But there were also long periods of time when I didn't write in diaries, record dreams or practise 'free' writing. These were times when my life had changed in major ways, important people had come into it, and/or the external world drew more of my attention and energy. I have needed both the introverted writing periods and the extroverted non-writing periods depending on circumstance.

I also know that regular psychological coping mechanisms like meditation, activity lists, and the like, only work for me sometimes and not at others.

The complex mind requires complex understandings and practises and an ability to negotiate what is what at any given time, without self-judgement or fear if possible. This is a lifelong learning experience for us all.

In response to: Writing As A Form Of Therapy

SilenusSenior Contributor23 Mar 2018, 7:57 am AEDT

Re: Writing As A Form Of Therapy

Hi @eudemonism. 🙂

I don't know the full particulars of your situation, but from what I can gather, the forced regimen of psychotropic drugs that are being administered to you are causing you significant anguish and suffering. This alone, to my simple mind, is grounds enough to have the entire establishment up on all sorts of human rights abuses... but, of course, mental health law in our country is a shambles, so I understand the difficulties involved...

It just beggars belief that our supposedly civilized modern society is still stuck with a 19th century model of forced treatment instead of gentle support that allows self-healing to take place... I wish I could help you. I wish I could help all of the people stuck in a heartless system that fails in its duty of care...

In response to: Re: Writing As A Form Of Therapy

SilenusSenior Contributor23 Mar 2018, 8:12 am AEDT

Re: Writing As A Form Of Therapy

Hiya Maz. @Mazarita 🙂

Indeed... the inner path travels through constantly changing terrain...

That's why that big old heavy tool chest we carry with us is worth all the energy and effort... we flip the lid on that bad boy when the going gets tough, and hopefully one of the tools in there is the one that will help you over that next hill...

Hugs. Nice to have you back, Maz...

In response to: Re: Writing As A Form Of Therapy

SilenusSenior Contributor23 Mar 2018, 8:13 am AEDT

Re: Writing As A Form Of Therapy

You sound exhausted yet energised, Maz. A great combination that really tells of worthwile energies spent and boundaries tested...

In response to: Writing As A Form Of Therapy

eudemonismSenior Contributor23 Mar 2018, 8:35 am AEDT

Re: Writing As A Form Of Therapy

You ain't seen a spiritual dance. Until you seen me. Dance and jive to the negative energy. Of the devil himself.

In response to: Re: Writing As A Form Of Therapy

Faith-and-HopeSenior Contributor23 Mar 2018, 9:09 am AEDT

Re: Writing As A Form Of Therapy

@eudemonism .....Like = I hear you .....

In response to: Re: Writing As A Form Of Therapy

AppleblossomSenior Contributor23 Mar 2018, 11:23 am AEDT

Re: Writing As A Form Of Therapy

@eudemonism Grief is a core part of all mental health issues. A reactive grief should NOT equate to life-long depot injections. I also have lost one brother suddenly and my other brother died a year ago after a 7 year battle with cancer.

Sudden and violent death is the most difficult form of grief to work through. It does take a long time, but it is possible to get into a better frame of mind. There is a concept called GRIEFWORK and I believe that it can be explored in a way to give you a sense of dignity for what has happened in the last 12 years.

Yes our society has gone with a medical model for many things that are part of the human life cycle, but persist with looking for a way to get support that actually WORKS for you.

Many people go through a period of illicit drug experimentation. That also should not mean a life sentence. Take care mate. I am sure you can improve your life for yourself.

@MazaritaI thought that was very beautiful and true about spirituality and timeliness. Any tool is only useful if it suits the job in the moment.

@Silenus

@Sans911

In response to: Writing As A Form Of Therapy

Sans911Senior Contributor23 Mar 2018, 11:53 am AEDT

Re: Writing As A Form Of Therapy

Beyond the Pale Truth

So that you all know
that truth and the lies are entwined
wound up in the same binding

You said you do not judge my life
But yet I sense a sadness in your eyes
there's lacklustre in your gaze
and a pervasive thrum is felt
a disharmony of a lower chord

Out of tune and time
this state of being
is not over yet
there's such a painful presence
with this severe loss

A division of love
ranks divided
swords drawn and ready
lest there be a fight

Instead we take flight
on magical wings
that take us away
way up above
the thunderous clouds
where we can take refuge

And yet we can see below
no fear from this vantage point
just time to collect our thoughts
and reflect on a journey yet told
Who and what is left
at the end of this day

In response to: Writing As A Form Of Therapy

NameUnknownSenior Contributor23 Mar 2018, 12:15 pm AEDT

Re: Writing As A Form Of Therapy

Feeling way down low
Cant let the good times flow
Every time I start feel good
Bad stuff floods through and tells me no

In response to: Writing As A Form Of Therapy

NameUnknownSenior Contributor23 Mar 2018, 12:25 pm AEDT

Re: Writing As A Form Of Therapy

Everyone says the love my happiness
But my happiness is a fraud
It hides my worry, guilt, shame and sadness
But this happiness is no friend of mine
It eggs my bad feelings on
The stronger they are the more it controls me
True happiness where did you go?

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