Writing Gives Catharsis

Dixya Poudel

Writing isn’t only a highly sought out profession but also an outlet for self-expression. Some of the greatest world leaders including scientists, philosophers, business tycoons and politicians have been profound writers. According to studies, writing is therapeutic and can enable a person to heal from trauma. Especially expressive writing can reach the root of trauma and excise the pain from the soul. It could be because pouring one’s personal narratives to paper releases pent-up emotions thus making the writing process cathartic. 

Many successful writers were once on a brink of mental anguish and they took to writing as a form of healing. Psychologists often suggest their patients to write in journals and jot their thoughts, compulsions, whims, desires and feelings. They suggest their patients to pen down the things that they are grateful for and what they have learnt each day. Jotting down thoughts to paper makes the words alive, vivid and palpable. It brings meaning to one’s psyche as words are empowering. 

Run through them wisely and you have something quite beautiful. Moreover, journaling brings clarity, alleviates stress and releases feel good hormones such as dopamine and serotonin. To those suffering from mental trauma, it can be difficult to revisit their pain while writing but in the long term, it can release the agony and turn it into something akin to relief. And negative experiences are part of life which is why even the most cautious person can fall prey to them.

Thus it can help to learn to proactively manage negative emotions and turn the experience into something positive through the practice of jotting down thoughts. Human mind requires discipline to prevail over the negativity. Otherwise, one just drifts into the abyss of helplessness from the relentless strain of negativity. Lately an increasing number of people are depressed and anxious that reflects the current zeitgeist of the world with polarising politics, ongoing war and the repercussions of the pandemic. 

Writing can be quite effective in managing, controlling and minimising the ensuing feelings of helplessness and depression. In medical fields, psychologists and mental health counsellors try to gauge the mental afflictions of their patients through the use of detailed written assessments. This is because writing is an entirely personal experience that reflects a person’s personality, traits and hidden issues. 

Writing isn’t just helpful at a personal level but also on a collective level. These days many renowned universities organise workshops that teach writing skills especially creative writing and include peer reviews from the participants. Such workshops foster a feeling of community and wellbeing. 

Due to the human mind’s inclination to creativity, writers come in all shapes and sizes, broadly speaking. They are likely to be quirky characters who mostly work in solitude and thus their writings are quite reflective. It could also explain why there isn’t any single rigid rule to writing. One can imitate another writer’s style but if the work is original it will have its own essence and uniqueness.

Writing is synonymous with creativity and engages the influx of ingenuity, artistry and innovativeness which are highly revered traits in today’s world. Ultimately, constant pursuit of writing thoughts to paper or the computer can heal a person from trauma while providing a platform for creativity and a source of inner harmony.