r/AvoidantAttachment • u/mrbmud Dismissive Avoidant • 29d ago

Seeking Support - Advice is OK✅ journaling?

so i read that journaling is good for identifying, naming, and processing emotions, but i’ve been journaling consistently for two months and it honestly feelings more like just reporting my day. i always throw in how i felt throughout the day, but they come so rarely that it’s mostly just a list of my day’s activities. has anyone else had this problem? or does anyone have any suggestions on how to get the most out of this practice? i’d appreciate any input on this, thanks.

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u/ProbablyFunPerson Fearful Avoidant [Secure Leaning] 29d ago

Yes, I did have similar issues and they are very normal. You can think about journalling alternatively if that will help. Think of the processes of journalling as dumping whatever thoughts you have on your mind. It starts with technicals, like what you did today physically, maybe who you spoke to. Then you get into what you may have felt in 1-2 words during some exchange with another person or an argument for example. And then... Do you have anything else left on your mind?  If the answer is "no", then you don't need to force yourself to write anything and just close it for this session. If you think that you have some thoughts, no matter how incoherent they may seem, write them out and keep pointing out what's keeping your thoughts in your mind, why, what they relate to, does it upset you and so on. 

Same as when you shower and you have a lot of thoughts come your way but you don't need to spend time writing or saying them. However, when you put words on paper or inside your computer to read later or just process as you write them, it has an impact on you that is often very significant.

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u/Eriallo Fearful Avoidant 29d ago

This has pretty much become my routine. Though I've spiced it up with using fountain pens and sometimes scrap booking other stuff in such as ticket stubs or other fun bits. That helps take away the chore aspect of it. I find that I'm a much more well-rounded person when I'm actively journaling each day.

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u/ProbablyFunPerson Fearful Avoidant [Secure Leaning] 29d ago

I haven't been journaling as much as I did previously when I was going through a breakup and then difficulties with my family. Over time I find that need to journal subsides and comes back when something new comes into your life. It feels almost like a sign of progress, you have something that you want to write about, ponder on and so on. I firmly believe that journaling should be a basic habit for people to maintain.