How Writing Can Help With Postpartum Depression
Writing Can Help With Postpartum Depression and can improve your overall mental health.
Writing your thoughts through journaling has become increasingly popular over recent years, and it is done by people all over the world for many reasons.
This includes women who have had a baby and are suffering from either baby blues or postpartum depression.
There are many ways it can be done, and it’s beneficial to your health mentally and physically.
It’s helpful to use writing alongside other treatment programmes you are having.
It is a significant form of self-care, and I believe writing can help with postpartum depression.
Overview:
- What is Journaling?
- What Are Some Different Types Of Journaling?
- Studies That Show Journaling Is Beneficial To Your Health.
- The Best Journals For Mental Health Including Postpartum Depression.
What Is Journaling?
Journaling is writing down your thoughts and feelings. By writing them down it can help you understand them more clearly.
This is especially good if you’re suffering with depression or anxiety, as it is an effective form of self-help.
Understanding your thoughts and feelings can help improve your mental health.
It is best to journal consistently, i.e. daily or weekly, as this helps keep you focused. It lets you process your thoughts and feeling of a stressful event and help you move forward.
Your journaling journey (that’s a mouthful!) can be whatever you want it to be.
It can be a gratitude journal, a self-care journal, or a place just to keep your thoughts.
The great thing about journaling is that it can be more than written words. You can draw yourself flow charts or brain storm clouds to add variation, little doodles and drawings can be helpful to.
That’s the beauty of it. You can express yourself however you wish.
There’s no right or wrong way to journal. Everyone is different with different needs – remember your journal is your journey.
Remember, journaling only requires a pen and paper. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy or cost you a fortune to get started on your self-care mission.
What Are Some Of The Different Types Of Journaling?
The main types of journaling are gratitude journal, self care, dream journal, free writing journal, affirmation journaling.
Gratitude Journal – a journal of things for which you are grateful for. These journals are used by those who wish to focus their attention on the positive things in their lives.
Self-Care Journal – a journal of your thoughts and feelings. Self-Care journals are used by those who wish to write through the tough times can help you make sense of your thoughts and improve your mental health.
Dreams & Ideas Journal – a journal of your dreams and ideas for the future. Dreams and idea journals are used by those who wish to have a plan about what they’d like to do in the future. It helps you focus on where you want to be. Having a plan helps you achieve these dreams.
Free Writing Journal – a journal of whatever you like! You can include points from the other types of journals, do your own little doodles – whatever helps YOU.
Affirmation Journal – a journal that helps you approach your thoughts from more than one perspective.
Studies That Show Journaling Is Beneficial To Your Health
They have conducted studies in the University of Texas at Austin and Harvard University that show that journaling is beneficial to your health.
Dr. James W. Pennebaker has conducted studies that have shown writing about your emotions can ease stress and help you cope better with anxiety.
Writing about your feeling (expressive writing and journaling) also has physical health benefits such as it can ease migraine headaches, sleep problems and improve your blood pressure.
The Best Journals For Mental Health Including Postpartum Depression.
I have suffered with postpartum depression for 5 years in total (so far) and I can honestly say that writing down my thoughts and feelings has helped massively.
This was the primary reason I started this blog – to empty my head! Although I love blogging, there’s something very satisfying about actually using a pen and paper to write your thoughts. I don’t know why but I prefer it for my self care.
The journal that I have been using is the Self Care Playbook from Happi Empire. I purchased this a while back and have the older version. However, I really need to upgrade and get the newer one. It’s super gorgeous.
I’ve a major soft spot for this range of products, as the lovely Fran that created them has also experienced mental illness.
I believe this makes for better journals, as she totally gets where you’re coming from and what you need.
I have been lucky enough to get a few words from Fran about how her products.
How Is Writing Good For Mental Health?
Fran Happi Empire: ‘My own experience with mental health is that anxiety and depression are symptoms of destructive unconscious beliefs that we hold about the situations we’re facing (or scared of facing).
Unconscious beliefs are just thoughts that we have accepted and believe as true. Thoughts only hold power over you because of your belief in them.
I made my play books and journals to use as a guide to uncovering unconscious beliefs, choosing more positive thoughts and being loving & gentle with yourself through the process.
Writing is such a massively helpful tool for looking at the contents of your mind and stop the whirling cycling of worrying thoughts. Get ’em out your head, onto the paper & be free!’
I couldn’t agree with her more – get the worry out of your head and be free.