How Writing Helped Me Conquer Real-Life Anxiety

Anxiety, or mental unease, can be seen as the crying out of the internal artist: Let me out! Let me speak! ~ Frances Krsinich My path toward healing from anxiety has not been easy or straightforward. I tried many different avenues, from traditional therapy and medication to acupuncture and herbs. But it wasn’t until I turned to the written word that I was finally able to conquer the everyday angst of ongoing anxiety. The healing first started by simply reading about it. I devoured many self-help books on the subject, including Lucinda Bassett’s From Panic to Power, finally understanding that I wasn’t the only person leading a normal life while fighting the undertow of fear. This fact alone helped me become more hopeful and empowered. I realized that if people with thoughts just as scary — if not more so —than mine could climb out of their anxiety, then I could too. Still, my mind remained uneasy, quite ready to spin another tale of worry into a sleepless night of fear. Then one day I was lamenting to my friend Eve about my latest obsession, and she suggested I write a novel. I had been content publishing how-to and travel articles and had never thought I had a novel in me. Yet, the second she said it, I nodded in complete agreement. With so many helpful nonfiction books about how to battle worry and anxiety, why not write a novel about a protagonist struggling with this disorder? Why not write a novel that could help others? I already knew from my own experience h...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatrists and Psychologists Authors: Tags: Anxiety and Panic Creativity Disorders General Mental Health and Wellness Personal Creative Writing Fiction fiction writing Journaling Lucinda Bassett Novel Source Type: blogs