Journaling can be a fantastic way to help you down your grieving path, and Beryl Kaminsky shares tips on how to journal from her own experience. As the author of Mending the Broken Heart: After Your Child Dies, Kaminsky shares with readers how she used journaling in her own healing process as a bereaved mother. She’s a counselor in Houston, Texas who specializes in working with the bereaved. She recommends to all of her clients that they journal about what they’re going through. It’s effective, affordable, but most people resist it. Everyone wants to feel better, but they also want to avoid the pain.

Time heals all wounds isn’t necessarily true. Grieving easily lasts a lifetime. Another concern is that people think they write to remember painful memories—that’s not the case. Studies have shown that writing about painful memories allows you to let go of the pain. Kaminsky knew she was hurting, but the fog blocked her view to clarity. Journaling can help you figure out what parts of the pain are causing intense grief.

Journaling to Heal

Journaling helps you document your own journey, and it’s not for anyone else to read. Therefore, it’s free of judgment. As you go through each day, there will be times when you feel you haven’t progressed at all. This allows for a reality check, and you can see for yourself that you’re moving forward. Today is, indeed, better than yesterday. Having a history in your own words gives you a reminder of where your travels have taken you.

Remember that grieving is exhausting. Even little things can zap your energy, especially with insomnia creeping in. Writing can help put you to sleep, giving the thoughts a place to go besides your head.