For those of you who don’t know, May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Inkitt made an announcement about it a while back and are even hosting a contest for books that place mental health at the forefront. I thought it would be a good time to talk a little bit about the benefits of writing on one’s mental health and share some of the experiences that I’ve had.
Professionals in the mental health industry have been using writing as a method to combat depression, anxiety, and more for their patients for years. From expressive writing in a journal, to writing a letter to a lost friend or family member, or simply writing a fantasy world for a story to escape to, writing can do wonders for the mind.
While there are other comprehensive lists out there that can tell you all about the multitude of benefits, I’m going to hit some of the ones that I’ve personally experienced or others have shared with me over the years.
Writing reduces stress.
Most writers claim that writing reduces their stress and anxiety. It’s a space where they can either organize their thoughts from the day or choose to create a space that’s entirely new. For me, I’ve done both. I’ve kept a journal of important experiences and I’ve dove into an alternate reality that I’ve made just for me. Recently, I’ve been doing more writing for a new story I’ve been itching to tell. While I might not write thousands of words each day, even a couple of sentences make me feel like I’ve accomplished something important and meaningful.
Writing enhances creativity.
This may surprise people, but writing can actually help with writer’s block. I know it helped with mine after I ran into a burnout. I wrote a little each day until I gradually started writing more and it turned into a new story that I’m now able to share on my Inkitt page. I try to write a little each day. Sometimes I write more and other days I can only get a paragraph down. But by doing so, I’ve felt the creative spark once again.
Writing can give you a sense of accomplishment.
Not only is it inspiring to complete a poem, short story, novel, or even a page in a journal, but it can give you that boost of confidence that you may be lacking. Personally, I have small writing goals that I’ve set for myself and each time I hit one, I feel elated. I take pride in my work and I can clearly state that I’m proud of what I’ve created. Having a purpose with your writing can be the motivation one may need to better organize the other aspects of their life.
Writing helps one to become self-aware.
When journaling about the day or an event that happened, it helps to reflect on one’s emotions in the moment. There’s a reason professionals ask people to keep a journal. It’s a way to hold ourselves accountable for the actions we took throughout the day and understand ourselves. Why did we react the way we did? What could we have done better? Did we convey our feelings the way we wanted to? Being more self-aware can prepare us for future situations where we might need to take a step back and make more informed decisions.
Do you agree with any of these benefits to mental health in regards to your own writing? Let me know how writing has helped you. Happy Mental Health Awareness Month and as always, happy writing!
Author Lauren Eason 