Writing your story

Current research shows that writing about yourself in a positive sense is linked to better emotional and physical health. So what’s stopping you? It’s time to find the courage to put pen to paper and write your memoir.

- EMMA NUTTALL

We know that writing about painful experiences can be an effective form of  therapy. Journaling is a well-documented method of stress relief. More recently, research has shown that writing about yourself in a positive sense is linked to better emotional and physical health outcomes. The process of writing your story can increase self-awareness and cultivate positive emotions.

Stories are powerful. They are a mechanism for recording and communicating cultural messages, forging connections and sharing experiences. Stories allow you to record and articulate your experiences and express them in a structured way.

The writing process itself can be a tool for gaining clarity about an emotion or an experience, and can result in deep personal insights. It can help you gain a sense of your inner wisdom by exploring positive ways you coped during challenging experiences and identify how those skills can support you now and in the future.

What does the research say?

Academic papers describe the telling of one's story as a tool for communicating your identity to others and to yourself. By recording your story, you can understand yourself better and derive meaning from your experiences. Through sharing your story, you can express your uniqueness, cultivate deeper connections by communicating your authentic self and help others to make sense of their experiences by sharing the meaning and insight behind yours.

Research studies on individuals with existing health conditions have shown better physical health outcomes for those who wrote about their experiences. Research has demonstrated improvements in a range of conditions including migraine management, improved immune function, reductions in irritable bowel symptoms and positive effects on blood pressure. However, it is suggested that the writing may need to continue for the health benefits to be sustained.