Utilizing Writing to Heal and Find Closure Towards the End of Life
It is not uncommon for patients and families to feel a range of intense emotions as they come to terms with a terminal diagnosis. While there is no one “right” way to deal with these complicated feelings, some have found that writing can be a helpful outlet. Writing can provide a way to express what you are feeling, work through complicated emotions, and even find closure towards the end of life. If you are interested in exploring this type of self-expression, here are some tips to get started.
Writing can be therapeutic
Writing can be one of the most underestimated activities when it comes to managing mental and physical wellbeing. Writing can help you to process your thoughts and feelings that are often related to life experiences, enabling you to make sense of them on a much deeper level than simply speaking or thinking about them. When used as a form of self-care, writing has been found to be an effective method for reducing stress, increasing clarity and understanding, and promoting positive emotions such as happiness and satisfaction. For anyone feeling overwhelmed, taking the time to write can therefore be extremely beneficial.
It can also be helpful to write down your thoughts
Writing down your thoughts and feelings surrounding the experience of death, dying, and grief can be an incredibly healing activity. Taking time to reflect on and summarize our observations, worries, and emotions in the wake of these trying times can be liberating and provide a sense of peace or closure that was not previously had. Not only can this process foster personal growth, but it may also help us find meaning amongst tragedy and express gratitude for what we still have left in life. Ultimately, writing about death and loss is a unique way to give permission for ourselves to grieve with dignity as well as find solace in understanding the universal nature of such events.
