• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

College Magazine

College Life, Dating, Career & Campus Advice

  • Colleges
    • College Guides
    • College Rankings
    • Campus Life
      • Academics
      • Dating
      • Freshman Year
      • Health
      • Social Change
      • Party
  • Majors
    • All Majors
    • Most Popular Majors
    • Choosing a Major
  • Intern
    • Internship Directory
    • How to Get an Internship
    • How to Write a Resume
    • How to Write a Cover Letter
    • How to Interview
    • How to Network
    • Career 101
    • Find Your Passion Career
  • Money
    • How to Make Money
    • How to Save Money
    • How to Get a Job
    • Credit Cards 101
    • FAFSA
    • Ramen Project
  • Travel
    • Study Abroad
    • College Spring Break
    • How to Travel Cheap
    • Things to Do
  • Shop
    • Writer Course
    • College Magazine Shop
    • Gift Guides
    • College Packing List
  • Find your college or university
  • Colleges
    • College Guides
    • College Rankings
    • Campus Life
      • Academics
      • Dating
      • Freshman Year
      • Health
      • Social Change
      • Party
  • Majors
    • All Majors
    • Most Popular Majors
    • Choosing a Major
  • Intern
    • Internship Directory
    • How to Get an Internship
    • How to Write a Resume
    • How to Write a Cover Letter
    • How to Interview
    • How to Network
    • Career 101
    • Find Your Passion Career
  • Money
    • How to Make Money
    • How to Save Money
    • How to Get a Job
    • Credit Cards 101
    • FAFSA
    • Ramen Project
  • Travel
    • Study Abroad
    • College Spring Break
    • How to Travel Cheap
    • Things to Do
  • Shop
    • Writer Course
    • College Magazine Shop
    • Gift Guides
    • College Packing List
  • Find your college or university
  • About Us
  • Team
  • Write
  • Apply
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sign Up
  • Advertise
  • My Account
  • Cart

You are here: Home / Life / Mental Health / How Journaling Aided My Thoughts in Personal Growth

How Journaling Aided My Thoughts in Personal Growth

January 29, 2021 //  by Kim Bates

Share1FacebookTweet

I know how therapy and antidepressants look to the outside world and, sadly, I once gave into the narrative that I wouldn’t be normal if I used those resources. I’ve since found both are helpful, but I had to start somewhere before I learned to ask for help. I had to dig deep and I found myself through journaling. 

Why Was Simply Existing So Stressful? 

instagram.com

Winter rolled around every year and every time my motivation dropped, stress levels rose and an overwhelming sadness plagued my everyday life. School became impossible, I never wanted to see friends and then I was diagnosed with Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD (oh the irony!). Therapy and medication were recommended to me starting at a young age. I outright rejected medication, and hesitantly decided to attend bi-weekly therapy sessions. My therapist went on to describe personalized coping mechanisms. “You’re a writer, right?” she asked.  

“Yeah, I’d say so,” I said. 

“So why don’t you try journaling?” she said. I wrinkled my nose and agreed to try. That suggestion was made to me in the early years of personal growth, when I was still battling being a pre-teen and the hormonal up-downs of adolescence. I didn’t give journaling much of a try at first. But then I started my junior year of high school, and my father died before we even served Thanksgiving dinner. I began feeling overwhelmed with the stress of school, the grief of my father and the regular seasonal sadness which haunted me. So I picked up a journal. I went to Amazon and I bought a light green journal with a page count that didn’t seem daunting and began writing. 

I date the top of my page and add the time when I write, which is usually 1 a.m.

unsplash.com

Sometimes I include the title of my favorite song for that particular day. Then I begin writing and I become brutally honest with myself. I gave myself permission to let my journal be a no self-judgement zone so I could attempt to get to the root of my problems. I need to be tough on myself and acknowledge I make mistakes; sometimes I’ve accidentally hurt others, and sometimes they’ve hurt me. Even when these moments of deep honesty hurt me and I felt embarrassed of myself, I knew it was in the name of self-improvement. Hopefully, I could become the best version of me I can be. Our thoughts are loud, but that doesn’t mean we can’t organize them. Look at symphonies: very loud, but can still carry a beautiful melody.  

I always thought that speaking your mind equaled a double edged sword. On one end, you get some relief because you’re able to let your thoughts and feelings go, you aren’t carrying the weight of them anymore. On the other hand, you can’t get those words back. Journaling is the loophole for me. I can freely let out my messy thoughts and still determine when and how I want to share my feelings when the time comes. 

The best part of journaling? How personalized you can make it. From the exterior of your notebook style, color and page count, to how you write and organize your thoughts, there is no right or wrong way to journal. Some prefer to use their journal to organize their daily routine or keep track of dates. Some use journaling to organize their thoughts or document their lives. All grammar and punctuation rules can be thrown out the window because this journal is for you and only you. Unless, of course, you choose to share it with others, which is in your power too!

My journal became an extension of me, and continues to be three and half years later.

Photo by Kim Bates

Think of it almost like an extra limb made out of stationary tools. That light green journal travels everywhere from class to a coffee shop and every time I visit my hometown. I never know when an invasive thought, inspiration or tough life moment is going to occur but I do know that I have the ability to cope with my thoughts and not have constant sadness plague me anymore. 

I’ve become much more candid and sincere with my own thoughts after journaling for a couple years. I can’t control the problems life seems to have lined up for me, but I do have the power to start my own self-journey. I’m not going to lie and say the process of loving myself or even being sincere with myself proved easy, but it became worth it in the end. So if you ever feel like you’re stressing over simply existing, try writing it down and letting it go. 

Share1FacebookTweet

Filed Under: Advice Mental Health

About Kim Bates

Korean, creative, and spunky.
Junior Magazine Media major at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

You May Also Like

positive instagram pages

Brighten Your Feed by Following These 10 Instagram Pages for Self-Care

15 Inspirational Movies You Should Definitely Watch in the New Year

5 Ways to Reach Out to Someone Without Asking “How are You?”

How Journaling Aided My Thoughts in Personal Growth

More Than a Furry Friend: CM’s Guide To Emotional Support Animals

mean girls

Is That You, Regina George? 10 Warning Signs You Have Toxic Friends

I'm on break

What Does It Actually Mean When You Say “I’m on Break”?

5 Reasons Why You Should Become a Morning Person in 2021

CM’s Top 10 Most Chill Colleges in the Country

It’s Okay If Your Grades Fall Behind During a Pandemic

winter blues

How to Help Your Friend Conquer the Winter Blues

Reflecting on Fall 2020: How to Recover from One of the Hardest Semesters

guy online

The Transition to Online Classes: A New Struggle or a Desirable Change? 

ADHD or the Enemy? At Least My College Helped Me

Counseling at a table

Seeking Counseling in College: Why Your Mental Health Will Thank You

Go Back or Stay Home? Impacts of COVID on an International Student

Woman stares out window.

How The Pandemic Made me Realize I’m Not Okay, and That’s Okay

10 Self-Care Tips and Tricks for Success: COVID-19 Edition

people worshipping jesus

What Finding a Church in College Taught Me

shy student, blonde female reading blue book

The Confessions of a Shy First-Generation College Student

Stuck at Home? Check Out These 10 Lifestyle YouTubers for Inspiration

It’s Impossible to be Perfect in College, but That’s Okay

The Dangers of Being an Overachiever All Your Life

Battling Poland Syndrome: How I Learned to Love My Flaws

Previous Post: « Top 10 Safest Colleges and Campuses in the United States
Next Post: The Most Compatible Zodiac Signs for a Match Made in the Stars »

Primary Sidebar



Trending Posts

97

10 St. John’s University Finals Activities to Help You De-Stress

mental health
81

Pandemic and Academic Blues: Being Aware of Your Mental Health

60

24 Ways My 2020 Survival Guide Turned into 2021 Lifestyle Habits

55

The Ultimate Auburn University Bucket List: 21 Things to Do Before Graduating

best classes
25

10 Best Classes You Need to Take at Drake University

Featured Chapter: St. John’s University

Footer

logo

College Magazine is the national daily guide to campus life. Our articles for college students feature university rankings of U.S. colleges, college guides, academic advice, college prep, career advice, student health and collegiate dating tips.

Written by students for students, by a team of journalists from universities nationwide, we’re on the pulse of the college experience.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Colleges

  • College Guides
  • College Rankings
  • Campus life
  • Academics
  • Dating
  • Freshmen Year
  • Health
  • Party

Majors

  • All College Majors
  • Most Popular Majors
  • Choosing a Major

Intern

  • Internships Directory
  • How to Write a Resume
  • How to Write a Cover Letter
  • How to Interview
  • How to Get an Internship
  • How to Network

Money

  • How to Make Money
  • How to Save Money
  • How to Get a Job
  • Credit Cards 101
  • College Loans

Travel

  • Study Abroad
  • College Spring Break
  • How to Travel Cheap
  • Things to Do

Shop

  • College Packing List
  • Gift Guides
  • About Us
  • Team
  • Write
  • Apply
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sign Up
  • Advertise
  • My Account
  • Cart

Copyright © 2021 College Magazine · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding Inc.