Self Care Techniques: Journaling

In the past ten years mind/body medicine has seen great advancements in understanding how our emotional state affects health. Diseases like artherosclerosis, cancer, autoimmune conditions all have been found to have an emotional component, especially when it comes to repressed feelings like angeror unresolved conflicts. As more and more research shows the strength of this connection the medical community is beginning to see the validity in incorporating a biopsychosocial or holistic approach to treatment.

A biopsychosocial approach is one that considers biological, psychological and social implications in the expression of disease. It utilizes the information gleaned from biological measures like blood tests and scans. The psychological approach considers the implications of cognitions, attitudes andbeliefs that influence a person's perception and perspective of disease and health and the sociological state of an individual views his support system as an important part of diagnosis as well as treatment.

Due to this increased interest in the psychological influence on health, researchers have focused on a variety of therapies that include a simple technique some of us do already. Journaling is a simple, effective and inexpensive form of therapy shown to help individuals deal with unresolvedissues. In the process, overall immunity is improved.

There is however a process Dr.Pennebaker and colleagues suggest, drawn from dozens of successful journaling studies. It follows distinctive well-thought out and studied steps. Dr. Pennebaker, in his books, Write to Heal and Open Up, suggests that during the process of writing about a highly charged situation, the individualmay find themselves becoming weepy or highly emotional. This is usually a short term experience. The studies show that in the long term, journaling enhances positive feelings and happiness.

To augment your journey to wellness, Dr. Yim encourages you to journal as a personal contribution to your treatment. However, he also suggests that if you find an issue you are not ready to deal with, that makes you feel uncomfortableor that feels confusing, arrange an appointment with him for further suggestions and alternatives.