In a fascinating book titled Opening Up: The Healing Power of Expressing Emotions, University of Texas psychology professor James Pennebaker describes numerous studies he and his graduate assistants have conducted on writing’s ability to heal.
Pennebaker has found that when people express their feelings and experiences in writing—even if it is for only 20 minutes a day, four days in a row—the health benefits are measurable and long-lasting.
He believes this is because many people who have experienced a trauma have never expressed their feelings about it to others. He says that:
“Writing about previously inhibited experiences helps individuals translate the event into language. Once it is language-based, people can better understand the experience and ultimately put it behind them.”
When we fail to express our emotions—even to ourselves—we often find the resulting stress we experience leads to illness.
For example, numerous studies have found that people who are unable to communicate their feelings to others are at risk for a variety of disorders linked to the immune system, including breast cancer, high blood pressure and diabetes.
On the other hand, Pennebaker has found that expressing our experiences and emotions in writing leads to improved health and fewer trips to the doctor.
“Dozens of experiments have now been conducted by researchers in laboratories around the world. Writing about emotional upheavals has been found to improve the physical and mental health of grade-school children and nursing home residents, arthritis sufferers, medical school students, maximum security prisoners, new mothers, and rape victims.
Not only are there benefits to health, but writing about emotional topics has been found to reduce anxiety and depression, improve grades in college, and aid people in securing new jobs.”
Pretty cool, huh?
Very interesting and I know that this has proven itself to be true in my case. I have worked through and moved on from many things that were holding me back just by writing about them on my blog.
I have used my blogs to get in touch with myself, express what wanted to be expressed today, and experienced healing and growth on all levels.
I have used my websites that way, too! (Which has actually been a time consuming, expensive and ineffective process…)
I haven’t spent much time reading or writing blogs–this is the first one I’ve actually gone forward with–but I’m starting to see how effective the process can be in helping me express, heal and grow. (As you explain so well.)
And I even get feedback, which is wonderful! Thank you.