keeping a journal

raymond57 · Post by **raymond57** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 12:00 am

i am having trouble keeping a journal. got a notebook for my car, keep a writing tablet by my bed. i guess dealing with depression and anxiety for so long makes it hard to recognize when i am having these symptons. what do i write. i know i made a big step yesterday cause i did write down some thoughts. it seems each morning i have pretty good intentions to have a positive day, but around mid afternoon i feel i have to go home, stop and get a 6 pack and go home a veg out. I wrote this down but i am trying to think what i am telling myself. also had a girl i just met, thought i might want to take out again tell me yesterday she wanted to go back with her old boyfriend. wasnt by her wanting to go back with him, but felt a little dejected, i guess i need to tell myself i am a good person and will find someone someday. but now that i think about it, i guess i will get better at it the more i try it. Thanks for listening, hope all have a great day

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 3:10 pm

I have noticed that I don't make the time to write in a journal. Seems so hard and the physical act of writing is a pain. So I just started putting my journal on my computer in Word. Makes it so much easier to write fast and to go back and edit and add things that I missed. So, I've gotten in the habit of writing for about ten minutes every evening. I tell about my day almost like it's a travelogue, so I need to put more thought into how I'm "feeling" and not what I did that day. But I just started so I'll cut myself some slack. I know that Lucinda says to carry around a notebook for our negative thoughts, but I'm just too busy at work to even consider that. Plus, I would be mortified if someone saw me doing it or found my negative thoughts journal. Gotta work on identifying the negative thoughts more too since I don't recognize them. I just know I feel stressed out and get anxious because of the physical muscle tension. I don't actually "hear" my negative thoughts yet. Good luck to you!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Jun 08, 2008 4:29 am

I was always told that writting was very helpfull, but it was hard for me also exspecially the one by my bed.. I have a huge problems with nightmairs and i kept thinking the last thing I want to do is remember them what if it will make me dream about it again!! I was never into poetry but one day i sat down and let my pain spill out onto the paper in a poem... It has become my way to release a little of what has built up inside. Keep up the good work as hard as it seems at first eventually you will find a creative out... It might even be painting or drawing and not writting!! Keep looking up best of wishes!!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 7:24 am

the hardest thing was starting. this morning it was raining, got up, forced myself to do some yoga stretches and then laid done back in bed. i had to tell myself i was going thru a little anxiety and was writing down what i was feeling. i am also trying to ween myself of caffeine and have been drinking half caff/half decaf. it might have been the coffee that accelerated the anxiety. i am trying to be more in tune with how i feel. maybe i can see somewhat of a tunnel out there in the future let alone the light