Writing as therapy
This post from FA got me thinking (bad move: I should be WRITING, at least till my fingers bleed).
I started keeping a diary about ten years ago when I was cracking up mentally. I got better, decided to do a degree, got into writing because it was a good way of working AND taking care of my son. Cracked up again and entered therapy. Currently in good mental health, thanking you, and starting a course in counselling at my alma mater, Birkbeck, this October.
My point is, following on from FA's post, that writing (and particularly re-reading older writing) can be very illuminating as to one's state of mind at the time. I think it also shows how change is always possible. In scripts as in life.
Comments
Sob sob.
Glad to see that sanity prevails - and (surprisingly) my post caused a ripple...
Cheers
Where will it all end?
glad you are in good shape nowadays.
;)
Thanks Helen. I come from a long line of barking-mad women so a certain amount of ahem, instability is expected.
I studied counselling a few years back (We read Counselling for Toads too!) and found it really useful. We studied Rogerian Therapy which is all about "helping people to help themselves" but just as useful is that it gives you the skills to recognise and deal with your own feelings.
I think you're right about writing being a reflection of your mental state at the time. My first script was definitely an act of catharsis.
Yes, I'm doing the counselling for fresh insight into my own motivations as well as counselling others. I like the sound of Rogerian theory.