Keeping a Diary
Writing a diary allows you to write about difficult feelings and emotions in safety and privacy. Some people find keeping a diary helps to reduce stress, enabling them to make sense of what is happening to them. Writing can help you find your core values and identify what matters to you.
How you keep your diary is up to you. There is no right or wrong way, it is entirely what you find helpful. Some people keep their diaries as they find it helps to go back to what they have written. Others write their feelings down and then throw them away. You may only have the energy to write a few words a day due to the cancer or treatment. You may find it easier to record your thoughts on your phone, computer or tape recorder helpful.
If writing a diary does not appeal to you, you may find these other types of writing helpful:
A Letter
You could, for example, write a letter to someone from the past things you wish you had said to them. It may be resolving an old conflict. You could write a letter to someone in your life now that you find it hard to talk to. These letters can help resolve unfinished business.
Quotations
You could collect sayings, articles, quotations, things you overhear and return to them when you find it helpful. You may wish to write a diary entry about one of the pieces you have collected.
Lists
You could, for example, write 10 ways your life has changed since your diagnosis, 10 qualities you like about yourself, 10 ways you can look after yourself.
Good Things
Some people find that there are positive things that having cancer has taught them. It may have helped give them strength, find out more about what matters to them. You could write down these positive reflections.
Learning from past experience
You may find it helpful to write about a time earlier in your life when you faced a challenge. You may find it helpful to reflect on the problem, how you dealt with it, and what you learned from the experience.
Dreams
When you wake in the morning, it may be helpful to write down what you can remember of your dreams. Very often, these can contain insights that you may find helpful in coping with cancer.
You could, for example, write a letter to someone from the past things you wish you had said to them. It may be resolving an old conflict. You could write a letter to someone in your life now that you find it hard to talk to. These letters can help resolve unfinished business.
You could collect sayings, articles, quotations, things you overhear and return to them when you find it helpful. You may wish to write a diary entry about one of the pieces you have collected.
You could, for example, write 10 ways your life has changed since your diagnosis, 10 qualities you like about yourself, 10 ways you can look after yourself.
Some people find that there are positive things that having cancer has taught them. It may have helped give them strength, find out more about what matters to them. You could write down these positive reflections.
You may find it helpful to write about a time earlier in your life when you faced a challenge. You may find it helpful to reflect on the problem, how you dealt with it, and what you learned from the experience.
When you wake in the morning, it may be helpful to write down what you can remember of your dreams. Very often, these can contain insights that you may find helpful in coping with cancer.