The Dark Side Of Journaling for Self Care

The mental health community often highlights the positive aspects of journaling, celebrating its role in improving our mental well-being. But journaling can take a dark turn if we do it incorrectly.

Is journaling worth it? Is journaling good for you? Is journaling always beneficial? Can it have a darker impact on your mental health? We’ll dive into the psychology behind these issues, revealing how journaling can sometimes turn into a source of distress rather than relief and how we can prevent and overcome that. So today, let's talk about the dark side of journaling.

Disclaimer: We are not saying that journaling is bad or that you should avoid it altogether. Instead, we're exploring the potential dark side of journaling, especially when it's not done in a healthy way. Our goal is to highlight the importance of being aware of these issues so you can make the most of your journaling practice and avoid potential pitfalls.

#journaling #mentalhealth

Writer: Imoleayo Olorunnisola (Light)
Script Editor & Manager: Kelly Soong
Voice Over: Brandon
Animator: Rebecca Chu
YouTube Manager: Cindy Cheong

References:

[jessieh]

1. Getting stuck inside your journaling
2. Trapped in negativity
3. Shame based thinking
4. Observe, Project, Rewrite
5. Create a worry journal
6. Specific gratitude
I know it said five but it seems like it had six.... Hope this helps!

[pierre]

Journaling is so underrated. Only by speaking to a therapist did I learn how to write my thoughts and process my feelings. It's about having a healthy conversation with yourself and shut off the negative self talk in our minds.

[rippripp-ie]

I sometimes write negative thoughts and worries without filter into a journal. It does stop those thoughts going over and over in my head

[rikitikitavatiki]

My biggest problem with journaling is ... actually forcing myself to journal. I *can* make the time, but I *don't*.

[kayisa]

i started journaling when i was about 14, i'm 20 now. completely agree with everytg said in this video, what u write in ur journal is essentially a word dump for how u rly perceive urself at the time, and a projection for ur future self reading back on it. there were moments when i reread entries and was floored to see how negative and obsessive i was over things that could've actually been a blessing or were simply trivial. it can be either something that traps you in OR opens your eyes. when i was younger, i would only write when i was extremely upset so all my entries were super depressing so when i realised that my journal only depicted one side of my life and completely neglected all the good things that were actually happening, i committed to documenting more of the positive things, essentially gratitude journaling. this simple act flipped my self-esteem and my own perception of myself and my character and my entries would get more and more specific as time goes on while talking about a wider range of things rather than just conflicts or other upsetting things. anyways sorry to yap but journaling can rly be such a powerful tool for mental health and i'll always stand by that ❤ keyword, CAN because it truly depends on how u journal.

to anyone who's suffering with their mental state or self-esteem, trust and pray that it Will get better but the change has to start within yourself! ❤

[mitsunam]

When I try to do journaling, I often either just straight up being lazy to continue to the next day, or my hands are just hurt too much to write anything... Lol 😅

[jaime]

I was told to grief journal…it’s ok sometimes but more often than not I find it makes me sob which in turn leads me to feel nauseated and sick…then I notice lingering sadness and anxiety for the rest of my day…but to each their own. Sometimes it can dredge up strong emotions one isn’t prepared to battle and other times it helps take the load off one’s mind. Know your limits and journal accordingly ❤

[nmdruyd]

This video made me realised that I've always approached journaling with the idea that I should write down all my negative thoughts and 'vent' into my diary. When I look at my journals from previous years, they're mostly full of negativity, even though my life has been rather nice.

[Aan]

Timestamps
1). Getting stick inside your journal 0:27
2). Trapped in negative 1:12
3). Shame based thinking 2:14
4). Observe 3:00
5). Project 3:10
6). Rewrite 3:19
7). Create a worry journey 3:35
8). Specific gratitude 3:55

Hope this helps you out. Hope you have a nice day. Sorry this is so late. 💙💙💙💙💙💙

[Salamonderman]

I used to write all my negative thoughts in a journal so that they disappear from my head and I can just put them away physically. I was no longer thinking about them once I wrote them down.. tho this meant that it became a bit harder to open that book every time I needed it, what I wrote inside might still be true.

[SoulDigester]

honestly, one of first things i always do when i'm journaling is write down a positive quote or an affirmation in colorful ink to give myself a better frame of mind before i brain dump or recollect my experiences of that day. whenever i feel like i need to vent in my journal, i try to reframe after venting. this might not work for everyone but it works for me 😅

[NotAyush]

I used to journal a lot and all about negative things. There was no balance between negative and positive. My Dad told me a few days ago to stop journaling and now this video came up, he was right...❤️

[TheNonameHousehold]

I didn't think journaling could get bad, I almost jumped into it about to make these mistakes, thank you so much for this new advise! ✍️🏼🧠🤕

[TheGovernorsJester]

Thank you for the reminder. Just like with most things, journaling can be both good and bad. I need to journal more than I do. I used to do it every day, but recently I have been slacking. I have two different Journals though, one for building confidence and self esteem and the other for negative thoughts. When I don't write in the positive journal, I at least try to argue against the negative thoughts with solutions in the negative one. It's like applying CBT, in a way, for me in my journal.

[renonly.]

From now on, I will write good and gratitude sentences throughout my academic journey

[sportlams]

investing in yourself is the most valuable thing you can do. Discipline is often misunderstood, but reading Bruce Thornwood's "Unveiling Your Hidden Potential" gave me the tools to build it and distinguish my mindset from others.

[no-one]

It reminded me of Simon from Cry of Fear. In the game, all the horror you go through is actually a story Simon's write to deal with his trauma. And depending on your choice, you could end up escaping the horror story Simon's write. Or get stuck in it.

[andreajones]

My favorite Journaling technique is on the new moon of every month (best for new beginnings) I assess my "wellness wheel" based on vital 8 parts of life like emotional, social, spiritual, intellectual, etc and rate them 1-5 on how confident I feel in that area. It's a great way to remember to journal while also not obsessively Journaling. ❤

[PeaceAmongTheStars]

I’ve journaled quite a few times and I can definitely see the potential downsides, such as getting caught in negative loops and obsessive thinking by treating your journal as your sole lifeline. Make sure to write positively as well by noting the good things, events and changes in your life.

I find that doodling and writing real life stories/funny moments can help make it more fun as well.

[Vishfeast]

Overthinking can lead into shaming yourself, but sometimes its important to realize if you feel shame from what your surroundings are promoting you to do. I believe its crucial, that while yes introspective of your own actions and where things are going right/wrong. But, it's also important to self reflect if you keep caving to things, due to friends, family, acquaintances, role models, etc.

Your path of healing, should promote you into a direction of some sort of self reassurances in who you are, and in finding that, you can then navigate life easier in your lane and lessen the weight of the world running around in circles.

It's also good to speak with professionals that understand psychology and to find a person who you can trust to share your concerns with!