How Writing Can Get You Through Tough Times: No Experience Necessary

By MJ Hanley-Goff

One of the most successful treatments for PTSD has been writing.
Andrew Komonchak, executive director,
Purple Heart Hall of Honor, Inc., NY

What if:
There was a place available 24/7 where you could figure out some of lifes biggest challenges?
You could work through grief, anger, fear, and anxiety without judgment?
This place was as accessible as the top drawer of your favorite desk?
There is such a place, and its one of the best self-help tools available: its known as journal-writing.
In this book, youll gain encouragement and enlightenment about the power of journal-writing from two beloved authors, and from those around the country and around the globe whove generously shared their journal-writing experiences.
You can also start your own journal-writing practice right here in the pages of this book!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press
• Release date: Feb 27, 2014
• ISBN: 9781452591810

MJ Hanley-Goff

MJ Hanley-Goff has been writing professionally since the early 1990s, first at Long Island’s Newsday, before becoming a regular contributor to the Hudson Valley’s daily paper, the Times Herald-Record and a feature writer for the award-winning website, WomanAroundTown.com. Her first novel, The Bench, debuted in 2007, and her eBook, 101 PR Tips & Secrets is currently available on Amazon.com. She’s been journaling for over thirty years and is delighted to share her own story on how journaling became an invaluable tool in her own life. Says Hanley-Goff, “Writing has been, throughout the ages, one of the best and easiest self-help tools available, and I know that everyone who picks up this book will come away with the inspiration to start their own journaling practice.” “One of the most successful treatments for PTSD has been writing.” —Andrew Komonchak, Executive Director, Purple Heart Hall of Fame

Book preview

Copyright © 2014 MJ Hanley-Goff.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Author Credits: The Bench, a novel of suspense and the ebook, 101 PR Tips & Secrets

Balboa Press books may be ordered through booksellers or by contacting:

Balboa Press

A Division of Hay House

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.balboapress.com

1 [phone]

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-4525-9180-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4525-9181-0 (e)

Balboa Press rev. date: 02/26/2014

Contents

Why me and why this book?

Journal-writing through loss

Journal-writing through illness and trauma

Journal-writing for peace of mind

Now what

About the author

You have everything you need for complete peace and total happiness right now.

- Wayne W. Dyer, Ph.D.

Why me and why this book?

Excellent question.

Because it saved my sanity, and continues to do so. Plain and simple.

Reaching for a cheap spiral notebook was, and still is, my safe place. During the mid-1980’s, literally out of the blue, I began experiencing panic attacks. I was in my early 20’s, and continued to have them well into my 30’s with varying degrees of intensity; during my middle to late 30’s they leveled off. When anxiety crept up on me during the day and I needed to make a few notes about my panicky feelings, I would dig in my bag for small notebook and jot down a few lines. The result was almost magical.

When they occurred at night – and usually before bedtime – or woke me up during a sound sleep, rather than toss and turn and let the anxiety increase, I’d turn on the nightlight, pull open the nightstand drawer, reach for a plain, college-ruled notebook and find the next clean page. I always noted the date, time, and in a cursive scrawl, wrote whatever was racing through my mind.

Things like, why was this happening? or am I just overtired? Most times there wasn’t any rational explanation. Eventually exhaustion took over, my eyelids would start to droop, my hand would tire, and I’d close up the book. Sometimes I’d sleep the whole night long, or other times after only a few minutes the overwhelming panic returned. And, sometimes I’d awaken with my face on the page, pen beside the pillow.

Thank you for choosing to pick up this book either for yourself or a loved one. By doing so, you are doing a wonderful thing for yourself, or for someone in your life who may be struggling. You’ll be spreading the word about the remarkable power of journal-writing.

31051.png

A terrifying time

It was both a terrifying experience, but also one of great insight. How the mind and body could be calmed by the action of writing! Just an amazing thing. Why? Maybe it was simply the acknowledgment that something was amiss, that I wasn’t running from it, that I was facing it and trying to work through it. The fact is, by writing in my journal, I never felt alone alone in my struggle. My journal became the place where I could be free to write whatever, the good and the bad, to let it be done and be out there. Now I use my journal practice to express genuine appreciation for those days long ago because I believe they made me stronger, and extremely grateful for a good night’s sleep, the health of my family, for a sunny day, and for the opportunity to share my experience to help others.

31051.png

A promoter of journal-writing

I’ve been one for years. When anyone was going through some kind of issue, I suggested they start a journal practice. I usually never knew if the suggestion was ever taken. If it was, then great, but I would never ask. It’s a personal thing, and not one that can be forced. If it didn’t resonate with them, I felt it wasn’t something they were ready to try, or even something of interest. I was glad,