Finding those memories brought stress, anxiety and tears. I had been feeling guilt for so many years but as I found the memory, I researched it and found most of the memories I was feeling guilty and “bad” for, actually were not my fault. I didn’t ask for an abusive, narcissistic parent, to be raped or stalked. To be held hostage with a knife held to me. I realised all the traumatic events had been other people’s decisions which they had decided to inflict on me.
Journaling brought me to the realisation I wasn’t to blame and I wasn’t guilty of what
had happened to me. I believe you will find the same too, that you right now you feel guilty about events that happened to you, but you are not guilty of them. They were bad choices by other people who inflicted them on you.
You should not feel guilty, ashamed or “bad” it was their choice, not yours. You survived choices people made. Once you understand, none of what happened to you was not your fault through journaling, your path suddenly seems clear, the clouds and fog lift and slowly the sun rises and shines into your life.
Writing a journal has been used to treat a number of conditions, including:
Posttraumatic stress Anxiety Depression Obsessive-compulsive issues Grief and loss Issues related to chronic illness
Substance abuse Eating disorders Interpersonal relationships issues Communication skills issues Low self-esteem
Therapeutic journal writing has become a popular self-help tool. Listed below are some tips on how to include writing a journal into your self-care routine.
Ensure your privacy: Keep your journal materials in a safe place.
Return to what you have written: Save everything you write, when appropriate, and review it often. The process of going back to what you have written can not only spark inspiration for future writing but can offer perspective on how far you
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