Over the years, the notion of mental health has seen a significant shift, from being a taboo to being destigmatised and frequently addressed. However, in this day and age where everyone is engulfed in the hustle and bustle of daily life, they find little to no time to tend to their psychological health.
Although, a shift has been seen among Gen Z where many young adults or teenagers are majorly subscribing to keep their mental balance in tune. Among the many various ways, a lot of them are realising the supremacy of creative writing. Hence, in this blog, we shall discuss the various tools of expressive or artistic writing and how the various ways of literary craftsmanship can be allocated towards better cognitive wellness.
So without any further ado, let’s get started.
1. Journaling
Since time immemorial, penning down in a journal has been a gateway to emotionally expressing yourself by putting your thoughts and feelings on paper. This private and safe space can help you process your anger, sadness, and anxiety and minimize their severity. In addition to this, it can also motivate a person to introspect and self-reflect, thereby allowing him/her to acquire an in-depth perspective into oneself.
2. Poetry Therapy
“The Soul selects her own Society
Then shuts the Door
To her divine Majority
Present no more”
– Emily Dickinson
If you are not a fan of journaling then you can resort to poetry where you can convey your perceptions through symbolism, metaphor and imagery. It can further help you with solving problems creatively and also have a reflection of the self, similarly, it can assist you in validating your experiences and empower you wholeheartedly.
3. Collaborative Writing
When you indulge in collaborative writing, you get a chance to connect with others and work towards a shared aspiration, likewise, the camaraderie around you can minimize seclusion that is harmful to your mental wellbeing. Furthermore, it can aid you in feeling cherished and the affirmation of one’s perspectives, also, it can enhance your creativity since you get to brainstorm amply and express various points of view.
4. Gratitude Writing
This is a practice where people consistently write down aspects that they are grateful for, either every day or week, as a result of this, individuals tend to focus on the positive facets of their livelihood. In addition to this, there is a diversion of thought process from the negative to the positive. Studies also show that gratitude writing releases serotonin and dopamine (neurotransmitters) that induce feelings of contentment and comfort.
5.Engaging in creative exercises
Through this form of creative writing, you can extensively spark creativity, stimulate your imagination, and get over writer’s block. Some of the activities include describing a city or a country that you have never been to but are eager to visit, penning a letter to your younger self, writing a poem that is full of significance and symbolism and more.
Thus, harnessing creative writing for emotional well-being cannot be emphasized enough. A normal action of expressing your thoughts on pen and paper can open doors to various merits. It is undoubtedly a comfort zone and restorative channel for addressing feelings and raising your emotional quotient to the fullest.
