Before we look into the answer, what is your understanding of grief journaling? Well, I think that journaling about grief, loss, emotions, feelings, and thoughts is to do it by choosing any medium, according to your preferences. When it comes to 'How much time should one spend on journaling?' Again, that is your choice for that moment. It is subjective as it does not have to make sense to others as much as it would to you; since these feelings are extremely personal and should be dealt with the way you want to.
I don't know what you might be feeling after losing someone or how much that person meant to you. The blog's purpose is to add value to your journey to make it a bit more meaningful.
Studies show that the expression of emotions is essential for mental health. And you must know that mental health is not just a trend but rather something vital for your life. Maybe, it might not matter to you at the moment or you may think that you can’t express your feelings right now, but it does matter. It matters to the future 'you'.
Journal about the feelings by writing your thoughts or quotes, poems, or any form of text or other media that you can relate to. Draw if you don't want to write. Use stickers or anything! Anything, because there is no limit when it comes to journaling.
Journaling helps you to relive those memories from a different perspective. It helps you to understand your current state of mind and handle this journey. When you are journaling, write, draw, scribble or paste anything that comes to your mind as it is about your loss and feelings. Do you know that sometimes it is quite comforting to read your own words to yourself? Maybe, it could be for you as well. We will never know how journaling can be helpful to handle your grief unless we try it ourselves. It has helped me. I am still grieving the loss of a loved one.
When it comes to long one should journal or how much time should one spend? Again, this process is endless. We never move on, to be honest, but rather, we learn to handle ourselves. Grief is like a wave. It will come to hit in different ways, it will recede for a time, but you know it will come back. All we can do is find something to hold on to when it gets too much to handle. Take a rest, then continue to swim. Sometimes, we will know how to prepare for the next wave of emotions and memories that will be coming like an occasional day or a birthday, and at other times it just comes out of nowhere. Let it come and feel all those emotions wash over you. So, take as much time you need.
Ignoring the highs and the lows won't do any good. It will increase the stress level, which will increase the levels of Cortisol and reduce the levels of Oxytocin in the brain. Suppressed grief triggers high blood pressure, reduced metabolism, decreases immunity, and increases chronic pain. Isn't that bad news?
Grief Journaling will allow you to record this process and look back at it one day. I repeat, this does not mean that you have moved on. It is to see how you are dealing with your emotions and find a way to express your deepest feelings more gently and healthily. The journey is yours. The sole purpose of this blog is to tell you that you can try this option and see how it goes.
If you don't know where to start, then you could check out some of the prompts for grief journaling. Also, you can check out this YouTube video of an attempt at grief bullet journaling, if interested.
Take Care.
Love,
Tangled Minds
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