Writing Practice Prescription

The stories of our life drive us. And yet, so many of us don’t even know what our stories are. Long forgotten trauma may be the story denied that we live with. Sometimes the stories are so painful and remarkable that they are far from hidden. There’s no need to explore your inner universe to find them. They blare forth like neon lights.

We know now from the medical literature that Well Writing™, a form of directed expressive writing can enhance the immune system, help overcome various forms of chronic pain and even reduce symptoms in asthmatic and rheumatoid arthritis.

But being better and feeling better, don’t always happen at once. For instance, Koren Slicks, author of Smashed: Story of a Drunken Girlhood, wrote her book once painful memories began tugging at her. She later noted, “It’s hard to say the writing process was therapeutic. (While writing) I cried a log. I was very emotional while writing.” But the aftermath was rewarding when she later discovered how meaningful it was for her to be able to give book readings on university campuses and finding out that many of the coeds were going through the same experience she wrote about.

I call this a reverse Mary Poppin’s experience. First you take the medicine (yuk!) and then later, sometimes much later comes the teaspoonful of sugar.

So. For now, my prescription on handling painful memories stays the same: Write. Write. Write.