Writing Is Medicine: Your Journal Could Be the Missing Prescription

Disclaimer: I am not a licensed health professional or doctor and this podcast episode does not include any medical advice, simply researched information. We’re getting nerdy today because if you haven’t learned yet, I’m a forever skeptic needing to know the why behind pretty much everything. This episode is all about the science-backed healing power of writing and how it might be the missing antidote to your healing. I share why writing my first book changed me in ways I could feel before I fully understood, and how I see the same transformation happen again and again with authors through Landon Hail Press.We look at the scientific research behind expressive writing, including how facing the deeper, more painful parts of your lived experience can support emotional processing, nervous system regulation, and can dramatically improve your physical health. A huge first step in healing physically and emotionally is understanding the difference between simply managing emotions and truly processing them - and why consistent, honest writing can help you stop carrying old trauma like it just happened yesterday.Highlights:(00:53) - The reason consistent expressive writing (or journaling) can create massive healing outcomes(03:31) - How the subconscious mind shapes the stories we keep repeating - and the actions that follow(06:35) - The science-backed research studies that support the connection between expressive writing and healing(10:34) - What a daily writing practice can do for stress, illness, and emotional processing(12:09) - The brain function that occurs when writing about pain that moves our trauma from alarm bells to meaning(17:07) - Why buried pain keeps you stuck in the same loop- and how to get out of it Resources:Pennebaker, J.W., Kiecolt-Glaser, J., & Glaser, R. (1988). Disclosure of traumas and immune function: Health implications for psychotherapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 56, 239-245.Smyth, J. (1999). Effects of Writing About Stressful Experiences on Symptom Reduction in Patients With Asthma or Rheumatoid Arthritis. Journal of the American Medical Association (Vol. 281, No. 14) Resources:Join SJ’s 2027 Winter Writing Retreat: Earlybird pricing happening Now with 15% off using code WINTER15Follow SJ on InstagramDownload the Free Identity WorkbookGrab my SLAY YOUR STORY⚔🔥 Storytelling Masterclass here. Buy The Less Effect on AmazonFollow Landon Hail Press on InstagramDownload the Free Writing Guide for Aspiring AuthorsBook A Free Consultation with Landon Hail PressThis Podcast is proudly produced by Wavemakers Audio