1 Month of Practicing Writing as Therapy on Medium
Finding Healing and Connection Through Words
“We write to be heard. We write to heal.”
― Mitta Xinindlu
In a tumultuous journey filled with frustration, pain, and grief, I found myself in a silent struggle for more than six months. This is where I found my jumping-off point for starting to write on Medium.
One month down the road, I’m very grateful for taking this decision, as it has had a great impact on me and helped me on many levels. Here, I would like to describe why it might be very well worth it to start your journey in writing if you feel inclined.
Self-Expression
“We define self-expression as expressing one’s thoughts and feelings, and these expressions can be accomplished through words, choices, or actions.”
(Kim & Ko, 2007).
Self-expression is greatly tied to our mental health and well-being. It’s also an important assistant on our self-discovery journey. People can express themselves in a variety of ways, be it through art, fashion, music, writing, or other activities.
The common factor between these activities is that you need to put something of your personality into the material you are producing. In my case, through writing, I found that I’m expressing myself in the way I arrange my paragraphs and synthesize my phrases, shuffling words in my head and feeling what resonates with me most. This all plays a major role in self-actualization.
A very astounding barrier for me was my cultural background. Coming from a Middle Eastern country, the culture does not emphasize the importance of self-expression, viewing it rather as a selfish and self-centered act. Yet, breaking free from these chains, I found liberation in the authenticity of my narrative.
Writing as Therapy
“Writing makes sense when nothing else does. Our thoughts need an outlet, jettisoning off to some place. Could it be to a parallel universe or to outer space? Do aliens also write their thoughts in their diaries?”
― Avijeet Das
Writing can have a profound therapeutic effect. When I write, I’m processing a lot of emotions and reevaluating significant events in my life, especially when writing self-stories and on subjects relatable to my journey.
This effect can facilitate healing as it unpacks many of our stuck emotions. While writing down my experiences, I get the chance to rethink them from different perspectives, similar to what happens during journaling when you put your thoughts on paper.
So, I choose to write as a type of journaling but a journal open to the world where I can feel that I am sharing and expressing myself out there, and at the same time, many people can read, relate, and learn.
Drive to Keep Learning
When I write about a subject, I want to avoid spreading misleading information or falsehoods. So, I constantly research, learn, and validate the facts I’m sharing as much as possible. Even though a lot of it is subjective, I don’t want it to contradict basic knowledge. This drives me to keep learning and growing.
It’s also a motivation to find new subjects to learn about and write about in the future.
The Medium Community as a Support System
This aspect is priceless. At times I felt lonely, misunderstood by my surroundings, as if I was going through bizarre changes that nobody could relate to. It was even seen as peculiar, unusual, and strange.
As soon as I started writing all this down on Medium my words became a bridge connecting me to souls who, too, traverse their rugged paths, it allowed me to reach out to like-minded people who went through similar struggles.
This was an immense support and motivation, especially seeing people further down the road who have made significant progress. Their stories, like distant stars, illuminate my path, instilling hope and a sense of belonging. They make me look forward to it and see the bright future, in contrast to before when I could only see darkness and gloom.
Beyond its therapeutic and expressive potential, writing offers numerous other benefits. It sharpens the mind, enhancing cognitive functions like memory and comprehension.
Regular writing can improve communication skills, as it requires the clear articulation of thoughts and ideas. It also fosters creativity and imagination, encouraging us to explore new perspectives and ideas. For some, writing is a form of meditation, providing a space for introspection and reflection, allowing for a deeper understanding of oneself and the world.