Intriguing. An activity such as using my imagination can help my mental health? What benefits are there? Let’s break this down.
Our blog posts contain affiliate links. They allow us to continue running this site and providing free content for our readers. Full disclosure in terms and conditions.
Table of Contents
What Is Mental Health?
These two commonly used words refer to one’s psychological and social well-being. This is made up of our:
- Cognitive (the process of knowing and perceiving-thinking)
- Behavioural (our actions and reactions to a situation)
- Emotional (feeling produced from our experiences)
In other words, how we think, behave and feel.
Our mental health is affected daily by:
- Conversations,
- Physical health,
- Carrying out activities
- And more.
They contribute to making and breaking our mental health.
To preserve one’s mental health, the ability to enjoy life, a balance needs to be found.
Here are 5 Benefits Writing Can Make To Your Health
1 Composing Words- Making Space
By writing down your thoughts that are buzzing away in your mind, you are clearing it. Meaning you are decluttering your brain with the many strains that are taking your attention/concentration away on a daily basis.
In this case, we are talking about writers. Many write about their experiences and other creative ideas as inspiration. From morning pages to their bountiful concepts.
Don’t let your overloaded mind continue to hold you back.
Having a clear mind can benefit your mental health by:
- Relieving stress
- Leaving more time for other things
- Better cognitive skills with less weighing on their mind
- Happier outlook
2 Self-Articulation
The act of expressing oneself clearly, readily and effectively.
When you write, whether you are conscious of it or not, you are taking part in self-articulation. From the characters to the scenarios you make.
What you depict may have occurred in your life, describing this in words would be self-articulation. By editing this story you have written, inspired by your real-life actions and reactions, you are gaining a clearer description. Conveyed in a readily and effective format.
Alternatively, you have constructed events and reactions of how your characters would express themselves.
In both cases, you are practising skills of self-articulation.
How does self-articulation in creative writing help my mental health? It helps writers:
- Explore negative sentiments
- Distinguish reasoning’s behind actions
- Review one’s mental well-being
- Understand other POV’s
- See the bigger picture (What else is taking place while e.g. emotional turmoil is occurring)
- Understand behaviours exhibited before, during and after the scene e.g. what ultimately lead the character/ self to act in this way- what acts occurred- how this was un/resolved.
- Understand self
All of this helps you to revaluate events for a healthier well-being. By understanding the ‘why’ you can begin to rationalise.
Want to write more but feel like you need more guidance?
Here are some options:
- Skillshare – learn from writers and editors to write the story you want to get out into the world (Get FREE for 30 days)
- Lisa Tener – have one-on-one support from a book writing coach who will help you every step of the way
- Grammarly – get suggestions from spelling, tone of voice, grammar and more
- Prowritingaid – offer grammar and style checking combined with more in-depth reports to help you strengthen your writing
3 Recall
Recalling is to remember. Creatively writing in itself will trigger memories.
You can use both pleasant and unpleasant memories to inspire your work. Furthermore, you can use this recall as a chance to see the instant in a different light.
Or not. Your past experiences also help you produce authenticity in your writing and understanding. Without that, you wouldn’t be able to reach an audience with the same depth and relatable retelling.
How will this help my mental health?
- Reframing. It is your choice how you react to this memory. Reframing is a mental activity where you try to see something in a new way. It can enable you to both recognize and appreciate positive aspects of situations.
- Going over a memory as someone who has experienced it gives you the power to change it, repurpose it. Become unaffected by it.
- Find a sense of belonging. Sharing your experience you will be able to find others in similar/shared events that bring you closer. Giving you a sense of belonging to satisfy your social well-being, to socialise and be understood by others.
4 Conversational Competence
Conversation, the art of taking part in talking to another part, competence, being how good they are at this skill.
Contradictory to the idea of isolating authors, writers have good conversational skills. They are constantly surrounded by fictional characters they have created. Who as it happens have a lot of conversations.
Conversation competence is a way of fulling our needs of our social well-being. This helps their mental health by using socialising skills, a lack of socialising can have a negative effect on your mental health.
What benefits to my mental health can writing conversations have?
- Building empathy. By constructing a world of fictional characters with their own personalities, thoughts and identities. Authors are able to gain a sense of empathy and understanding of others.
- Understanding the power of your words. By acknowledging your words, how powerful and knowing outcomes of what your words can do, you will use them carefully.
For example, a hurtful interaction is not a one-way street. Both parties in most cases come out of the experience affected. From causing and or enforcing symptoms of anxiety, depression, eating problems, paranoia, phobias, PTSD etc.
- Noticing you. You are the one making the conversation and you are the one who will be reacting to each scenario. Writing on behalf of a character and how you think they will react. There is a little bit of you inside each story, each line.
You can better practice self-care when you notice how your mental health is, what triggers your well-being to worsen. Thoughts and behaviours that are triggered by conversations or words in your writing. Knowing this can help yourself better deal with these in the future.
5 Accomplishment
People strive to make themselves better. This can be measured through accomplishments. However, when you are struggling with your mental health, every little task becomes more difficult.
Forming, writing and editing your story is an achievement.
How does writing as an achievement benefit my mental well-being?
- Promote self-esteem
- Increases confidence (in self and abilities)
- Sense of pride
- The rush of endorphins (happiness)
- A rung on the ladder (one step to achieving more in e.g. step forward for your story)
- Believing in self
That all sounds pretty positive, right?
This conveys that your hobby or future creative endeavour can not not only on the surface be an enjoyable activity but something that can help you keep the balance for your mental well-being.
Want to write more but feel like you need more guidance?
Here are some options:
- Skillshare – learn from writers and editors to write the story you want to get out into the world (Get FREE for 30 days)
- Lisa Tener – have one-on-one support from a book writing coach who will help you every step of the way
- Grammarly – get suggestions from spelling, tone of voice, grammar and more
- Prowritingaid – offer grammar and style checking combined with more in-depth reports to help you strengthen your writing
What benefits for your mental health have you seen as a writer?
Let me know if you are interested! Until then.
Check out my Resources for FREEBIES and affordable planning/writing of your book. Take this discount code: HAPPYWRITER1 to grab more of a bargain!Â
Psst… For a LIMITED time only, grab your planning and editing aids for £1.99