Journal prompts are great tools to help with anxiety and other stressful moments in your life. As I mentioned in a previous post, journal writing is an effective way to deal with the small and not-so-small things that cause you to worry, become anxious, and procrastinate.
Additionally, if you have been diagnosed with any form of anxiety by a mental health professional, using journal prompts in your writing is a great tool to use along with your medication, therapy sessions, or group meetings. And, to paraphrase William Wordsworth, when you journal to write, it “fills your paper with the breathing of your heart.”
Now, let’s take a brief look at anxiety.
Brief Overview of Anxiety
We all experience anxiety at one time or another. So, it is part of the human experience. However, people with anxiety disorders experience frequent, persistent, intense, and excessive worry about everyday things and situations. And some anxiety disorders can prevent someone from functioning in their daily activities.
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders are the most common mental health illness in the U.S., affecting about 18% of the adult population. Sometimes, the symptoms start during childhood or adolescents. However, it can also develop in adulthood. And although anxiety is very treatable, only about 37% receive treatment.
How Journal Writing Helps Anxiety
This article isn’t about curing or solving your bouts with anxiety. However, I present one method that can help you tremendously if you’re worrying about an issue or if you’re anxious about the long list of things on your to-do list. One of the biggest advantages of journal writing is that it allows you to process your thoughts and learn more about yourself.
Essentially, as you write, you are having a conversation with yourself. Rather than listening to the voices in your head, you’re also listening to the unspoken words in your heart, soul, and spirit.
So, take about 15 minutes a day to have a heart-to-heart conversation with yourself. You don’t have to write anything lengthy, but please go ahead if your heart and pen fall in love and want to keep writing. However, a few bullet points can also help tremendously.
And there’s no judgment here. You have other sisters in this circle writing along with you and cheering you on. We’re OK with being vulnerable together.
Journal Prompts for Anxiety
So, what’s a journal prompt? A journal prompt is a question or statement that helps you to describe, explain, or process an idea or feeling. Below, I present seven journal prompts to get you started.
One: How might your anxiety work against you today?
Think about 2 or 3 ways and write as much as possible about each one.
Now, think of one strategy that you can use for each of them.
Write, “I am at peace” at the end.
Two: I tend to be anxious when I’m not in control of things. However, today I let go of things that I cannot control, including . . .
List as many things as you can think of.
Write, “I am at peace” at the end.
Three: I try so hard to be perfect, but today I give myself permission to fail at . . .
I survived failure when I did . . .
My failures are necessary for my success because. . .
Write, “I am at peace” at the end.
Four: Today, I am so thankful for . . .
List 5 things for which you are thankful.
List 5 people for whom you are thankful.
Write, “I am at peace” at the end.
Five: A few things happened yesterday that made me stressed and anxious. If they happen today, I will do these things to calm myself. . .
List 3 things you do use to calm yourself.
Write, “I am at peace” at the end.
Six: When I get anxious, I will list these 5 great things that I like about myself . . .
List 5 things.
Write, “I am at peace” at the end.
Seven: What are you afraid might happen if you don’t get what you want?
Write as many things as you can.
Write, “I am at peace” at the end.
Now, It’s Your Turn
So, there you have it—7 journal prompts for anxiety that will help calm you and give you peace. You can use a few of these journal prompts in the morning to start your day. Or, you can use some in the evening to process your day and plan your strategies for the next day.
Living with anxiety is challenging, and there are no quick fixes. We all have times when we experience different degrees of anxiety. However, journal writing using these prompts will help you in your recovery. I think you will enjoy these articles on why journal writing needs to be at the top of your to-do-list and 7 days of journal writing for love, joy, and success.
We look forward to hearing about your experience with using journal prompts to you’re your anxiety. And you can join the conversation on the Keep It Tight Sisters Facebook Page.
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