Keeping a Grief Journal - Don't Give in to These Excuses

But this thought did not enter my head after my daughter and father-in-law died the same weekend. Journaling was the only way I could cope. It helped me cope and continued to support me when my brother died eight weeks later and when my former son-in-law died.

Four losses in nine months had been overwhelming. That did not stop me from journaling. In fact, journaling became way more significant. Bob Deits discusses journaling in his book, "Life Just after Loss." Over time, you will see the value of everyday entries, he notes, and the emotional progress you are producing. "The journal helps you remain in charge of your grief encounter," writes Deits.

This sentence is reason sufficient for journaling. The benefits of journaling are fantastic. I learned about grief, clarified suggestions, identified complications, worked on solutions, identified methods to heal, set new objectives, and made a new life. Journals end and I decided to end mine on the initially anniversary of my daughter's death. To my surprise, I began a new journal about the 18-month, 20-month, and two year responses to grief.

Writing about grief produced me conscious of journaling excuses. Sure, there had been occasions when I wanted to give in to these excuses, but I didn't, and kept on writing. You may have utilized the identical excuses.

1. There is not enough time. You need to make time for journaling. Think of your journal as a gift to yourself, a real, and quite often raw account of your loss and grief. Therese A. Rando, PhD, author of "How to Go on Living When A person You Enjoy Dies," thinks mourners have to have to "give some form of expression to all of your feelings." Journaling can be that expression.