Stress Center Peer Support

Journaling is vital and if you can lift the thoughts that contain the thinking errors that cause your anxiety and depression from your journal and counter them in a TEA form it will speed up your progress even more

Don,
As a perfectionist and former English teacher, I am highly critical of my writing. Even as a little girl I could not keep a personal journal for fear of whose eyes may be digesting it next. The only writing I've EVER done for sheer pleasure is when I travel, and even then I expect my reflections to be clever, witty, and exceptional.

In fact, it took me a long time to simply begin posting without making a conscious effort at precision/perfection (neither attainable, I know). Therefore, I consider my written participation an achievement AND and an alternative compromise. Unlike the conventional journal, I candidly post my experiences/thoughts/feelings/questions not only for feedback but in hopes of helping and/or informing others. I consider this to be my "interactive" journal.

For many like you, journaling is catharic; for me, writing is quite stressful. I know precisely what I am thinking and feeling and see a psychologist regularly. I also know the considerable progress I've made altering this program to fit MY needs. I will not be guilted into doing what I am "supposed to."

This said, I hope there is no ill will. Frankly, I'm only responding for anyone else like me who is sincere about getting healthy but elects to modify the program.
Fischee

Fischee,
I can understand what you mean. My writing is terrible. I need to get better at it. My boyfriend is the way you are. One time he was sitting watching me type a post on this site and i was getting self conscience. I was ready to press "send now" and he was like "You're not going to post that are you??!!" HAHA! It's because i write how I talk I guess. At least on here. Not when I am writing a paper. But in my journal i write just how I talk. But it was funny because he wanted to correct it for me and I was getting so upset. I was like I don't care as long as I get the point across. He said people judge you tremendously form your writing . . So I can see how it can be so stressful for my boyfriend because he is a perfectionist and for you too. Especially since you were an English teacher. Journaling is good for some and maybe not so good for some. . Maybe you can teach me to wrote better he he. I know I need to take a writing class for sure.

Haha i already can see some corrections I need to make on my last post. I need to start proof reading before posting haha!

Holly,
I think you are very articulate, and your writing clearly conveys your ideas. Plus, I love reading your posts .

I'm not judgemental of others' writing, just my own. I'm trying to get over this whole perfectionism thing, but sometimes it takes everything in me not to grab a dictionary or "correct" my entry after after posting.

Writing on these boards should be informal and conversational, and sometimes I feel like I'm an uptight, old biddy (ie. English teacher- HA! Yes, I do have long hair and frequently wear it in a low bun... )

Emily, as a teacher, you may recall the wording better than I do, so correct me where I stray: Mark Twain said the best writing is Talk Wrote Down.
Meanwhile:
I checked this post out because I wonder if anyone takes, or has good or bad things to say, about SAMe? Supposedly it increases our neurotransmitters, including serotonin and dopamine and norepinephrine?

Aww Thank you Fischee. And I too wonder about SAMe. I ahve heard of st.johns wort and 5htp. . but not on SAMe