Alan G. When journaling is counterproductive

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Question

i have some current stressers that i think make me angry due to displaced anger are they still worth journalling about if they're not really the source of my anger

 

Answer

Good lord, you know your psychology. Probably too well.

I would say, sure, journaling about anything that's bothering could be beneficial.

With regard to pain, I think that journaling has gotten too much attention. Often people journal because they feel like they have to do that in order to work toward becoming pain-free. If you do journal, it's important that the goal is to express feelings, attend to yourself, etc. Anything you do with the express purpose of getting rid of your pain just gives more attention to the pain.

The best way to work toward eliminating your symptoms is to change the way you respond when the pain arises:
http://www.tmswiki.org/ppd/TMS_Recovery_Program#Reframe_the_Meaning_of_the_Pain

That, in and of itself, is often sufficient to significantly reduce symptoms.

Attending to and expressing your emotions is a very self-loving thing to do, but when you do it as a means to an end, it often just elicits a feeling of pressure. It doesn't come from the right place and there's usually little benefit.

Alan

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Dr. Gordon's advice is excellent, as always.
I get some back pain now and then and just shrug it off.
I don't let it worry me. I do some deep breathing and tell myself it is temporary and nothing to worry about.
I just do what Steve Ozanich did when he played golf despite the pain. He concentrated on his game not his pain.
I find distractions helpful... listen to music, play with my darling dog, make a big pot of chicken vegetable soup.
Or I just laugh. I can't be worried about pain if I'm laughing, and laughter sends healing endorphins to
our body and mind.