How I Use Writing as a Form of Therapy

I have always wanted to be a good writer, to pour out my heart in all that I write. Sometimes I use writing to express my deepest fears in a way that I may not share them if I was speaking verbally to someone.

Even with the continuous ravaging effects of COVID-19, writing has remained one of my favourite activities and my go-to friend. It has kept me grounded in a world where life has become unpredictable and no one knows what the future really holds

At a time when there is an increased concern on mental health due to the quarantine measures and stay at home order, many are finding it hard to contain their stress levels and anxiety. It, therefore, calls for creative ways to reduce our anxiety and our stress levels.

Despite there being several ways in which stress can be alleviated, to me, writing works magic. When my energy is hitting low and I have no strength to carry on I put it down on paper. When I am angry about something I put it down on paper. When someone screams at me and he urge to answer them back builds in me, I write my response on paper.

Most of the time I do my talking through writing. Through this, I have avoided drama and saved relationships that would have otherwise been lost. It has made me hold back words that would have emotionally destroyed other people.

I am your typical introvert but sometimes I try to kill the monotony with some adventure. So a walk in the park, a trip to some attraction sites and some outdoor games come in handy.

Most of the time you will find me indoors. I never feel lonely when I am alone. I somehow never lack what to do. When I get really strong emotions and get to a point where I feel like exploding. I take my phone, my laptop or my writing pad whichever is closer then I pour out those emotions in writing. When I feel like saying something stupid to someone who has annoyed me, I take out my writing materials and pour it there.

If it is something that has hurt me, I allow myself to cry as I write. The endless tears and the writing excavate the deepest pain in me. I get relieved after a session of crying and penning down my deepest pains.

My favourite therapy when I am hurting is doing it on a piece of paper. Typing on the phone or laptop does not usually give me full satisfaction as compared to writing it down on paper. Writing using pen and paper is the most fulfilling.

Sometime later after a situation has passed, I come back to what I wrote. Reading through what I wrote while mad usually gives me goosebumps. It makes me see a different side of me from a sober perspective which gives me a chance to become a better person by working on my weaknesses.

Some of the writings are usually nasty and mean to the extent that had I said them verbally to someone, they would get really offended.

Writing has played a big role in shaping my character. It has saved me friendships that would have ended on a bad note. My relationship and interactions with those around me would have never been close to what they are right now had I not ventured into writing as a form of therapy.

I owe what I am today to writing, my character and the way I think has revolutionized since I started writing as a form of therapy. It has built me and made me into a better version of myself.

I am giving you a challenge today, the next time you get angry and can’t resist screaming out insults to someone try and hold it. Get yourself a pen and paper, sit down and pour out every word you would have said on that paper. Come back later when your anger has cooled down and read what you wrote. You will find out that 98% of the things you would have said or done in anger are mean. They would have caused you more harm than good.

When you are in your sober state, you can pick up things that you don’t like from the writings that you did in your angry state and decide to work on them to make yourself a better person.

The ball is now in your court. Try writing as a form of therapy by writing down things you would have said or done during your angry moments then read them later when you have cooled down. Tell me what percentage of that makes sense to you in your sober state.

Go ahead and leave your experience in the comment section. I would love to hear from you.