## The Importance of Writing for Healing - The book "Writing as a Way of Healing: How Telling Our Stories Transforms Our Lives" by Luis T. Delabo, also referenced as Davo, has had a significant impact on the reader, with its opening sentence resonating deeply and relating to the reader's own [[Diploma mill | life experiences]] [(00:00:10)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HllSlxwQx5Q&t=10s). - The book explores the idea that writing or journaling can improve our health, with studies by [[James W. Pennebaker | JW Pennebaker]] and SK Beal showing that it can even prolong our lives, and the answer to this question is a resounding yes [(00:00:48)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HllSlxwQx5Q&t=48s). - However, simply writing about trivial topics or only venting one's feelings about traumas is not sufficient to improve health, and Pennebaker and Beal state that combining events with feelings is necessary to have a positive impact on health [(00:01:20)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HllSlxwQx5Q&t=80s). - The act of linking feelings with troubling events can diffuse its power over individuals and has been linked to improved immune health, with benefits lasting up to 6 weeks, according to Pennebaker's studies [(00:02:01)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HllSlxwQx5Q&t=121s). ## The Negative Impact of Unexpressed Trauma - Inhibiting traumatic narratives and feelings can act as an ongoing stressor, gradually undermining the body's defenses, and can have a negative impact on the [[Immune system | immune system]], vascular system, brain, and [[Nervous system | nervous system]] [(00:02:45)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HllSlxwQx5Q&t=165s). - Research shows that victims of severe trauma or abuse who do not discuss or express their experiences tend to develop more major illnesses than those who do express their feelings and tell their stories [(00:03:07)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HllSlxwQx5Q&t=187s). - It is essential to acknowledge and express one's feelings and experiences, regardless of how severe they may seem compared to others, as everyone goes through difficult times and ignoring or suppressing these emotions can have negative consequences [(00:03:24)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HllSlxwQx5Q&t=204s). ## Validating Emotions and Self-Expression - Validating one's emotions and inner voice is crucial, and it is essential to express and write about personal experiences, regardless of their severity, as this helps to rob the event of its power to hurt any longer [(00:04:26)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HllSlxwQx5Q&t=266s). - The process of writing and journaling can be a powerful outlet for expressing oneself, and it is believed that finding the story that hasn't been told and putting traumas into words can be a way out of depression [(00:04:51)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HllSlxwQx5Q&t=291s). - While writing and journaling may not be everyone's preferred outlet, it is still important to find a means of self-expression, whether it be through drawing, doodling, painting, sculpting, singing, or performing, as having an outlet is critical for one's well-being [(00:05:23)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HllSlxwQx5Q&t=323s). ## Personal Legacies and the Importance of Self-Validation - Everyone has stories to tell and legacies to leave behind, and it is up to each individual to take charge of the kind of legacy they want to leave, with some people preferring to share their stories publicly and others keeping them private, like DAL Salvo and Davo [(00:06:12)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HllSlxwQx5Q&t=372s). - Ultimately, the most important person to validate and tell one's story to is oneself, and it is essential to remember that everyone deserves to be heard and validated, with the option to keep their stories and journals private, like the author's own journals [(00:06:47)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HllSlxwQx5Q&t=407s). ## Sources - [website](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HllSlxwQx5Q)