ARTS & HEALING By Amber Robinson
The power of writing through tough times As we, as a veteran community, work to stay informed, healthy and safe during the onslaught of the COVID-19 Pandemic...some of us may be struggling to stay completely sane. Our world’s state of affairs is not an easy one to digest for many, and can easily bear upon those of us who may already be struggling with anxiety or depression. As therapy groups dry up and individual therapy visits move to phone calls or skype sessions, veterans may be looking for new ways to help themselves cope.
One of the simplest ways to cope, is through writing. According to www.PositivePsycology.com, the benefits of writing include boosted mood, better self-awareness, enhanced feelings of well-being and even helps to organize and sharpen cognitive abilities. It doesn’t take a large vocabulary, a writing degree or even a passion for writing to enjoy the benefits of how it can help. The most common form of writing geared towards mental health is journaling. All one needs is pen, paper and 20 to 30 quiet minutes a day for mindful writing to reap the benefits listed above and so many more. Journaling can work as a way to address past trauma or just as a way to become more self-aware by giving us the means to detect negative behavior patterns. For those who use journaling as trauma therapy, it provides a way for survivors to create a clear narrative of their traumatic experience, thus helping them better face it. It’s suggested by www.PostitivePsycology.com to write daily as a discipline to ensure it “works”. They also suggest writing in a quiet location, with no distractions and keeping the journal completely private, for only your eyes. If you know someone will view it, you may not be as honest in your writing. A more abstract form of writing for mental health is the creative craft of poetry. Writing poetry has many of the same positive effects as journaling, such as enhanced 30
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sense of self awareness and a way to capture significant life events. Poetry can also be highly validating as a writer finds and learns to activate their “poetic voice”. The abstract characteristics of poetry allow a writer to not only capture significant life events, but reframe them, opening windows to different viewpoints along the way. No matter what form of writing you choose to take up, there is no better time than now. Grab a pen, paper and a quiet spot and write out some of the things that you are feeling and thinking. If it sounds like a poem, why not make it a poem? The choice is all yours. If you would like inspiration, or would like to share your writing with others who write, there are a few online ways you can do just that. We are lucky to have a thriving writer’s scene in San Diego with writers who have created some online venues in the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic. On Instagram you can find two online poetry readings that are hosted weekly. You can just listen or get brave and read your own work via video. The first is @poets_ underground hosted Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 PM by local poet, writer and personality, Sunny Rey. Also available is a new account, @viral_poetry_series hosted at 7 PM on Wednesdays by Adam Greenfield. You will be given a time limit to share and can share poetry, short stories and more. For an infinite amount of inspiration, also check out www.PoetryArchive.org.