How I Use Journaling to Help Me Manage Anxiety, and Ease My Worries

Have you ever felt really worried or scared about things? It’s okay because lots of people feel like that sometimes. In this post, I will discuss a fun and helpful way to deal with those worries. While there’s no one-size-fits-all, using a journal to manage anxiety can be a powerful tool. This blog post will explore how journaling can be a therapeutic and practical way to navigate the storm of stress and pressure caused by anxiety.

How Using a Journal Helps with My Anxiety:

Probably the best thing I’ve seen from journaling is the ability to help me organize my thoughts. As an ADHD card-carrying member, I often find that it’s just a big jumble of thoughts going through my mind. Using a journal helps me organize them so that instead of an anxious, tangled web of fear, I feel much calmer and clearer about my goals.

What’s the monster under my bed:

As a kid, I was worried a monster was under my bed or in the closet. Now, as an adult, that fear has just moved out of my closet and into my head. By writing it all down, I can see what makes me worried. I read through and sometimes even remember the thoughts and emotions that made me freak out. Over time, I see patterns and what’s making me feel that way. This has been extremely helpful for me.

Helps Me See What’s Real

For me, anxiety makes situations seem much worse than they really are. Journaling grounds me by allowing me to reflect on my experiences and thoughts objectively. Simply, it lets me look at a situation as if I’m not part of it. When I do this, I sometimes see that the things I was worrying about didn’t make sense. It’s like I created a problem that wasn’t even there… I don’t know why I just did.

Pressure Release Valve

I don’t know about you, but for much of my life, I’ve been an emotional pressure cooker. I feel awkward and even guilty trying to share it with others. People often think I talk a lot. However, it’s rarely about what’s bothering me. Maybe it’s because I was picked on as a kid, or perhaps I’m just nervous about letting people in on what’s in my head. For me, my journal is like talking to a friend. I can share my feelings without worrying about what others might think. Writing in a journal has been like an emotional release valve. It provides a safe space for me to express my fears and frustrations. Sometimes, simply putting my thoughts on paper has given me immediate relief and helps me process my emotions.

Solving Problems

Most of my adult life has been making money by solving problems. Something I’ve learned the hard way is that when something seems impossible, write it all down. I break everything into little pieces. I look at the pieces that are the problem, and I focus on them. Writing it down is what lets me let go of all of the distractions and focus just on the problem at hand. Journaling works the same way. It’s kinda like being a superhero and coming up with plans to win the day.

Starting Anxiety Journaling:

Journaling is a personal space for thoughts and experiences. This guide will help you start.

Most Important Thing

There is no right or wrong way to journal. Your focus is not on being right but being in a judgment-free, peaceful place.

What Type of Journal: You can use physical or electronic. In my experience and from talking to others, downloadable printable journals are the best. You can customize it and make it work exactly how you need it, and the physical act of writing it down somehow separates it from my mind. I’m putting the problems into the hands of the paper.

Make Time: Set aside time for journaling as a regular part of your routine. Dedicate a specific time each day or week to reflect and write. What doesn’t get scheduled doesn’t get done.

Be Honest and Open: This is your personal and private space to be completely honest. There’s no need to judge or hold back in your journal. Write about your deepest fears, worries, and anxieties.

Looking Back: Periodically review your journal entries. Look for patterns, triggers, and progress in managing your anxiety.

Seek Professional Help (Therapist, Psychologist, Psychiatrist, etc.): While journaling can be a valuable self-help tool if your anxiety is severe or interfering with your daily life, please consult the guidance of a mental health professional. If you are too worried to leave the house, I feel ya. There are now reasonably priced services over the computer or the phone.

Using a journal is a super cool way to deal with your worries. So, grab your journal and start using it to write your way to feeling better! Journaling is a simple way to deal with anxiety. It helps you organize your thoughts, figure out what’s bothering you, help you see what’s really happening, release emotions, and even come up with ideas to fix the problem(s). Remember that it’s a good idea to seek help when needed, and journaling can be a valuable complement to professional support on your journey to greater peace of mind. For me, Therapy was and is a game changer.