According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, writing about stressful life events helped reduce symptoms of asthma and rheumatoid arthritis in patients with these chronic illnesses. The effects of the writing exercise were still evident four months later and resulted in clinically meaningful improvements in patient symptoms.
Interestingly, studies showed that asthma patients who wrote about their most stressful life events showed a 19-percent improvement in lung function; similarly, rheumatoid arthritis patients had a 28-percent reduction in symptoms.
These findings add to a growing body of evidence that links mental and emotional health to physical well-being. Although researchers aren't sure exactly how expressive writing can lead to health improvements, they theorize that writing help people cope with stress, and stress-as well all know-clearly impacts health.
University of Texas at Austin psychologist and researcher James Pennebaker believes that regular journaling strengthens immune cells, called T-lymphocytes. He theorizes that writing about stressful events helps you come to terms with them, thus reducing the impact of these stressors on your physical health.
Louise Moran, a nurse coordinator, has written about a patient who, during a serious illness, sent daily e-mails to friends and family about her illness, a practice the woman believes played a pivotal role in her healing process. Moran said another patient felt that journaling helped her create a new life after breast cancer. There have even been studies suggesting that journaling in healthy people actually improves the immune system.
Patti Testerman is content manager at journalgenie.com, the only online site that analyzes your writing and then gives you instant feedback. Want to discover self-defeating patterns, or find better ways to communicate in a relationship? Check out our site.
In this age being ignorant is like committing a crime.... Read More
There's no way you can separate the Jack LaLanne diet... Read More
NLP Setting an Anchor Process to Get Back Motivation for... Read More
The humble soybean boasts some extraordinary benefits. This nutritional powerhouse... Read More
Changing habits is one of the most difficult challanges we... Read More
Diet Pills are the fastest growing segment of the dietary... Read More
Yes, you read it right?no diets!The first step in this... Read More
If you pick the right personal trainer?you'll most definitely see... Read More
I was at the grocery store the other day, doing... Read More
Everyone from politicians to parents is talking about fighting the... Read More
You step on the scale and groan at the number... Read More
For a healthy body, it is very important to have... Read More
Having just returned from a week of basking on a... Read More
Weight loss is one of the biggest industries in the... Read More
Weight loss programs often have big claims. Understand the "science"... Read More
Cut the Calories, Bring Out the BikiniSummer's almost here and... Read More
Over two thirds of Americans are over weight, and half... Read More
Metabolism is the process by which your body changes food... Read More
Let's face when it comes to overweight and obesity there... Read More
Why Walking Could Be the Solution to Your Fitness Dilemma.Walk,... Read More
How many of your New Year's resolution start out with... Read More
There is no doubt about it; Americans are eating in... Read More
1. Become aware of what you are eating.Before I started... Read More
Is this even possible?Well hold on to your seat because... Read More
Are you concerned about the lack of exercise your child... Read More
cleaning lady near Deerfield ..Thankfully, winter does not last forever! In the spring there... Read More
In our quest to get that "perfect" body, we actually... Read More
Sometimes, just the thought of starting on a diet and... Read More
It's definitely no fun to lose weight -- put it... Read More
Do you have a big event coming up? Perhaps you... Read More
Spring is here and swimsuit weather is just around the... Read More
Losing weight is a lifelong commitment. It takes patience and... Read More
Dieting is not easy. If it were, we would probably... Read More
Telling yourself you have to "struggle with this weight issue... Read More
From driving up your blood pressure and cholesterol, to increasing... Read More
In the last 12 months or so, low carbohydrate diets... Read More
Experts say obesity will overtake smoking as the biggest health... Read More
Weight loss, diets and "carbs" are common household topics. There... Read More
The difference between weight loss, and steady or weight gain,... Read More
Let's not talk about diets. Diets are punishment ? like... Read More
The world today has more obese and overweight people than... Read More
If you're a low carb diet enthusiast, you've probably tried... Read More
Getting Kids Moving - Help for Overweight TeensA residential school... Read More
Fifteen Secrets of Safe and Easy Permanent Weight Loss Revealed!*... Read More
Many people are under the impression that gastric bypass surgery... Read More
At around ?350 pounds a treatment, Lipo-Dissolve the so called... Read More
If only there were a 'better body boot camp', we'd... Read More
Losing Weight is All About Counting Calories/Carbs and Exercising. Or... Read More
You know you have will-power. You can change a diaper... Read More
I bet you already know all the health benefits for... Read More
Weight Loss |