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Journaling And Schizophrenia Or Schizoaffective Disorder

February 10, 2016 Elizabeth Caudy

People do a lot of things to help with their schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, including journaling. I believe taking medication and seeing a therapist are the most important strategies. But there are other things to do for self-care besides that. I know a lot of people swear by meditation. I swear by exercise for schizoaffective disorder, as I’ve written about previously. But something new has come into my life that helps with my schizoaffective disorder that I’d like to share with you. Well, it isn’t exactly new. It’s something I’ve been doing on and off since I was five. Recently I’ve decided to get serious about it. I’m talking about journaling with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.

Schizophrenia and Taking Journaling Seriously

I’ve always noticed that my schizophrenic symptoms are better when I’m regularly journaling (Mental Health Benefits of Journaling.). I can think more clearly, and look at situations and relationships more objectively. Most importantly, I can look at Journaling can help you deal with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. What's a good way to start journaling when you have schizophrenia? Read this.my thoughts and emotions more objectively. So, how have I gotten more serious about journaling? It’s mainly a shift in perspective. I’ve officially labeled it part of my mental health regimen and so I commit to journaling every day, even if I just write a sentence.

A lot of people, including people with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, would like to journal. But it’s easy to get stuck and think, “I don’t know what to write about.” I’ve had that problem, too. My advice is to start by journaling about your dreams. This is a great way to come to know your inner mind. And once you get started writing, other ideas to write about will come to you.

Journaling Will Not Cure Schizophrenia

I cannot stress enough that journaling will not cure schizophrenia or treat it. It can’t replace medication prescribed by a psychiatrist or psychopharmacologist. Medication and regular talk therapy remain the best ways to treat schizophrenia. I see my therapist once a week, and I’m on a cocktail of medications that works for me. Running, and now journaling, simply offer an added boost of wellbeing and confidence. And they help create a routine that can help with sleep cycles and reduce the toll of sleep deprivation. So many other activities within easy reach can reinforce these benefits. Sometimes I do yoga. I also go to church – I find it brings me a sense of peace. Journaling is a great supplement to medication, therapy, regular exercise, and all the rest. I call it spring cleaning for my brain.

My Video about Schizophrenia and Journaling

Photo by Elizabeth Caudy.

Find Elizabeth on Twitter, Google+, Facebook, and her personal blog.

APA Reference
Caudy, E. (2016, February 10). Journaling And Schizophrenia Or Schizoaffective Disorder, HealthyPlace. Retrieved on 2024, March 19 from https://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/creativeschizophrenia/2016/02/schizophrenia-schizoaffective-disorder-and-journaling



Author: Elizabeth Caudy

Elizabeth Caudy was born in 1979 to a writer and a photographer. She has been writing since she was five years old. She has a BFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and an MFA in photography from Columbia College Chicago. She lives outside Chicago with her husband, Tom. Find Elizabeth on Google+ and on her personal blog.

John Topping
March, 10 2016 at 4:41 pm

I have journalled for years now and have found it very beneficial. It is like having a best friend that doesn't judge you or criticize you. You can share your inner most thoughts at any time. When you read over your journal at a later date you may spot some recurring thoughts that have been troubling you and take action to remedy them.

Michael Lutzer
March, 6 2016 at 5:40 pm

I am writing a short story and that is helping me enormously....does anyone know of a way to publish something like that?

Sara
February, 22 2016 at 2:27 pm

Hello, i'm writing a movie that's going to be a day in the life of 5 teenagers suffering from each a different mental illness. One of those kids is going to be schizophreniac and i was wondering if you could email me so you could give some ideas or just to see my script. The thing it's to promote awareness to mental illnesses in school but since i'm not schizophreniac myself i don't want to misrepresnt this illness by not showing it as it trully is. I would like to show that people with schizophrenia can manage a somewhat functionnnal life and be integrated in our society. I would be very honored if you could send me some personal experiences.

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Elizabeth Caudy
February, 22 2016 at 4:29 pm

I don't communicate with readers via personal email -- only through these comments.

John
February, 12 2016 at 5:49 pm

I have always journaled. It does help clear the mind. It helps to put thoughts on paper--good days and bad days.

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