Writing as Therapy

[ej]

I think this topic has been touched upon before, but I can't remember or find a thread, but does anyone use writing as a therapy tool? I've found that if I'm stressed about something, if I sit down and work on a story, it alleviates the stress and anxiety for a little bit. My father's a musician and he uses music this way--as an escape. So I guess my question is do any of you use writing this way too? Or use anything else as an escape? Or, what are others reasons you write?

[Pony]

Yup, writing n music...therapy! It's also my way of having a bigger purpose, like leaving my mark!

[Deleted]

Oh, definately...I use it as therapy as well. I get almost frustrated when I can't write for a few days but then I usually at least try to read on my stuff a little and edit...for me it helps me deal with all my feelings and emotions when it comes to my devotee interests...
I don't play music but I do always need music in my life, work, at home....I don't watch TV during the day but you will always hear music in my house....

[Deleted]

my current therapy -

“fallen fruit” reveals powerful personal truths. The dream was strong; lived well and lived long. But a disabling degenerative disease and a wheelchair led to a harsh demise of the relationship. Each page discloses another layer of compelling experiences innovatively expressed through prose-reflections paired with contemporaneous-poetry. This book is more than one person's purge. It is a clarion call. May all survivors of mental, emotional, and physical abuse find the courage of voice to write the wrongs suffered at the hands of those they adored.

two excerpts are posted in the story section, lies and good read or no

[Pigeon]

I write as therapy a lot. It helps me work through stuff. The stuff I write frequently ends up paralleling what's going on, or what I'd like to happen, in real life.

[Deleted]

Jun 17, 2013 0:07:07 GMT -5 Pigeon said:

I write as therapy a lot. It helps me work through stuff. The stuff I write frequently ends up paralleling what's going on, or what I'd like to happen, in real life.

please share some
post on this board

[Max]

I would love to be able to express my thoughts throguh writing, but I am having a very hard time to do so. So far I only manage to write short paragraphs without too much depth. It is very hard to get the many thoughts in my head in line enough to write them down.

[Ath]

Writing is like practising mindfullness, sort of..

[Kid A]

Jun 17, 2013 10:36:48 GMT -5 Max said:

I would love to be able to express my thoughts throguh writing, but I am having a very hard time to do so. So far I only manage to write short paragraphs without too much depth. It is very hard to get the many thoughts in my head in line enough to write them down.

You're too hard on yourself, Maximus. I think you're a great writer. Keep it up!

Also, yes, I do find writing very therapeutic and oftentimes, quite cathartic. I usually do this most frequently when things are tough-going, but sometimes, I just like to jot down ideas and long-term goals. Both activities I find very rewarding. Maybe I'll throw some poetry in there just for good measure.

On a side note, I'd like to report that I've actually witnessed Swagger writing his side of our story. HUZZAH! Let's hope it's not too long before it's "published" here. Yay!

[janewheeler]

YAY for Max -- totally agree; I really liked what I read of yours.

And YAY for Swagger! Come ON!

[greenbean]

I've written a couple poems, but I like exercise better for working out stress. I run, and when I'm pissed off at someone/something I don't even notice the distance or how much it's hurting. Running with music is double awesome... going fast to something loud. That being said, when I do write and when I'm happy with the end result I find it therapeutic and rewarding, I'm just often to wrapped up in myself to get into it when I'm being moody.

[Max]

Jun 17, 2013 13:31:37 GMT -5 Kid A said:

Jun 17, 2013 10:36:48 GMT -5 Max said:

I would love to be able to express my thoughts throguh writing, but I am having a very hard time to do so. So far I only manage to write short paragraphs without too much depth. It is very hard to get the many thoughts in my head in line enough to write them down.

You're too hard on yourself, Maximus. I think you're a great writer. Keep it up!
[..]

Jun 17, 2013 21:28:47 GMT -5 janewheeler said:

YAY for Max -- totally agree; I really liked what I read of yours.

And YAY for Swagger! Come ON!

Thank you ladies. I gues you are referring to Simon's Search? I don't consider that a therapeutic piece of writing. It was a lot of fun to write, but I do not know if it ever will be finished. Never say never though.

My therapeutic pieces are much, much shorter, often not longer than a paragraph. I have a lot more stuffed in my mind that I would love to be able to put in writing, but that proves difficult. So far those short blurbs have made their way to a fitting medium, but not publishing-worthy.

[Deleted]

When I am stressed or down ect I always have to untangle my thoughts, worries and problems by writing a list of what is going on and then go back and write the solutions. Have been doing that since I was 17 and it helps.

Jun 17, 2013 12:56:43 GMT -5 Ath said:

Writing is like practising mindfullness, sort of..

I've been trying to get into mediation and it is funny you mentioned "mindfulness" ath because if I've had a really good writing session on something I'm working on I do come out of it thinking that my head has been somewhere completely different. I imagine that is sort of like a meditative state. When the session isn't so great then I just get p'd off with myself.

It does help loads with my devness as it can help explore some fantasies I have and can ease some of the frustrations I get.

Max - flash fiction may be the way to go for you. I would love to be good at that. And as for Simon's search, it can take years to finished a story, the one I am working on with DevLove Press at the moment started in 2007!!

[Ximena]

Yes - I/E is kind of my place to put all the crazy, messed up crap swirling around in my head. It's also where I "practice" my writing... Kind of like you may do scales or have certain pieces you play over and over to improve your ability at an instrument.

However, at the same time, because I/E is my emotions condensed, it can be overwhelming, too, at times, and I have to take a break for a while.

[tiggersf]

I just wrote a short story, male para/female devotee. It is a bit graphic with some femdom in it. Is this forum the place to post it should I send it to the blogspot site linked from the paradevo.net homepage?