Removing trauma with Writing

Do you have a habit of writing a diary? If yes, get on! Writing, especially the things that make a scary or trauma, it turns out positive impacts on the physical and mental health. This was stated by James Pennebaker, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at the University of Texas.

Experience John Mulligan

As seoran Vietnam veteran, Mulligan replete with bitter experience. Six years ago he was like a lost mind, just wandering aimlessly in San Francisco. Even his fellow Vietnam veteran took revenge by doing odd jobs. Animals were fired just as fun.

Fortunately Mulligan interested in taking writing workshops for veterans, led by famous writers: Maxine Hong Kingston. At the beginning of training Mulligan write terrible experiences during the war. Subsequently he became convinced that the disclosure of the fear and anxiety through the words to clear the mind and improve his spirits. Mulligan left the training with a sense of fun, without fear that always haunt him. Now he is a novelist who excited.

Impact of Writing on Physical Health

James Pennebaker, Ph. D., has conducted dozens of studies involving various parties: student, housewives, students and even inmates. Generally, they feel happier and healthier after writing the bitter memories of the trauma menyebatkan depth.

Writing does not just affect the emotional state. From research Pennebaker in 1988, entitled the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology found that T cell-lymphocite, ie, cells that indicate the workings of the immune system, increase in number six weeks after the students vent their stress through writing. Other research also proves many patients increasingly rare visit to the doctor and psychological test scores improved after therapy writing.

Even Joshua Smyth, Assistant Professor from North Dakota State University, provides a more specific statement: writing bad experiences or stress relieving symptoms of asthma and arthritis (rheumatoid arthritis). He conducted a study of 70 people with asthma and rheumatism. The 70 patients were divided into two groups. The first required to write a bitter or a sad experience for 20 minutes in three consecutive days. Another group (37 people) write the plan daily activities.

After four months found interesting facts. Forty-seven percent of patients who write bad experiences experiencing significant growth. Patients with rheumatic pain and reduced lung capacity of asthma patients increased. While only 24% of patients from both groups made progress. The results of this study was published 14 April 1999 in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology.

Yet scientists have yet to confirm the impact of writing on health conditions. The answer, according to Pennebaker, may lie in the still mysterious relationship between stress and disease. But from various studies can be proved that prolonged stress can weaken the immune system, provide opportunities for heart disease and weakened arthritis, asthma and other diseases.

Writing therapy may provide a similar effect on patients with other diseases. Pennebaker and his colleagues are now applying to write as therapy for infertile patients and the plan will also be applied to patients with breast cancer. They also still want to do similar research to the veterans and victims of sexual abuse.

Writing as therapy bitter experience did not have to pay attention to rules of language. But still not easy. For actors, it's like an old wound. Mulligan himself had to calm myself many times before finally able to finish his writing. But novelist Shopping Cart Soldier argues that this is the opportunity to face the 'demons' that haunt his life. And 'Satan' or the enemy seems more benign on paper than in the mind.