Sober Synthesis

“Creativity is a basic human response to trauma and a natural emergency defense system,” Louise DeSalvo

What are the mental and physical health benefits of writing?

• Writing has been demonstrated to:
  • Decrease stress, improve immune system functioning, and improve overall physical health.
  • Enhance learning, mental focus, productivity, creativity.
  • Support mental health, improve self-control, increase confidence, increase gratitude, and enhance more acceptance of others.

How does writing improve mental health?

• Writing helps us engage with what’s deepest and most immediate.
• Writing can be an “exposure” experience; it’s important to check in regularly with yourself.
• When writing about charged or traumatic events, patience is important and professional support may be important.

• As compared to thinking or talking about our stories. When we write something down, we literally set it outside ourselves.
  •  When we write to express and make sense, we can reclaim some measure of agency.
• When we write, we can weave together thinking and feeling.
  • This process activates both the left and right hemispheres of the brain to process our experience collaboratively. This creates synthesis and helps us actually integrate our experiences in mind and body.
• Recent studies have begun to show how an increase in self-awareness, rather than simply disclosing emotions, could be the key to improvements in mental health.
  • Self-awareness is being able to turn our attention inward to become more aware of our traits, behavior, feelings, beliefs, values and motivations.

Tips:

• Research has shown that therapeutic writing in fifteen-to-twenty-minute increments over a period of four or more successive days is the most beneficial. 
• Three types of writing which can improve self-awareness and, in turn, mental health:
  • Expressive writing: writing about thoughts and feelings related to a stressful life event. 
  • Reflective writing: writing about our beliefs and actions explicitly for learning and development. Promotes openness and curiosity.
  • Creative writing: employs the imagination as well as, or instead of, memory. Often uses literary devices like imagery and metaphor to convey meaning.

Proposed Questions for Thought/Sharing:

1. Has a writing practice supported your recovery/wellness? How?
2. What emotion(s) surface when you are writing? Have those emotions changed in recovery?
3. Has a writing practice sparked other creative activities?

Disclaimer

This summary is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed.