River1034

Ah, been a long time since i've been in this forum, computer has been screwed up for a while now. Finally got it back up and running however.
My girlfriend got me a Journal a few days ago and i've been writing in it every night. I've had a lot of troubles the past few weeks and i guess she figured me writing my thoughts in a journal would help me vent and think them out, she was right.
I was just wondering, do any of you keep a journal?

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LoneWolf

I do...I have about 3. Two for my writings (one for home, one for school when I'm bored) and a special one for important events. They're like therapy...I can write about anything and no one will ever know!

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My aim is to put down on paper what I see and what I feel in the best and simplest way. --Ernest Hemingway

River1034

Yes, i noticed that, i play paintball and lift weights, stuff like that, and i always thought they were good stress relievers, but writing in the journal is 1000x better.
Like i said i've had a really rough month now, probably the worst i've ever had, it would have taken a lot of paintball and weights to relieve some of my stress. The journal is probably the best gift i have ever been given.
I cant get my avatar to work . (random i know).

__________________
"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."
- Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931)

Oracle

Yep. I find that a journal is easily the best way to deal with my frustrations. Of course, if someone were to read my journals, they'd probably think I had a bad case of schitzophrenia, because I basically use them to talk to myself through writing. When I figure something out in writing, it makes it alot more official than if I just figure it out in my head. If it's written, I feel that it's been lifted off my shoulders.

I don't use my journal as much as I used to though, because I'm not depressed anymore. I went through a particularily depressing phase from age 11-14. The journal certainly helped me through that, and then my first love managed to banish the depression entirely, and even though we're not together anymore, I've still kept my newly positive outlook.

Alot of people turn to alcohol or drugs as an escape from depression, but I turned to writing. I still pull out the old journal from time to time if I'm feeling stressed, but I've had alot less to vent about lately.

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River1034

Well, its good to hear that your not depressed anymore.
My grandfather had a stroke and lost his memory, he'll never get it back and is in a nursing home now. My aunt got a divorce, i hurt my back, my grades hit the gutter because of some things going on that i wont mention, my parents are battling in court, my grandmother on my fathers side has cancer, i could go on but i'm boring you, needless to say i've been very stressed, and i see how much the journal helped me, its really relieved my stress a lot. My literature teacher would have a stroke if she heard me say 'a lot'. hehe.
Anyway, yes it does feel much more official to have it worked out in the journal than just in your mind.
Stupid avatar still wont work...

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"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."
- Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931)

Succubus

I used to keep a journal, but these days I'd be more likely to forget about it. Yeah it can be therapeutic and it's a great way to resolve some of those unwanted thoughts by writing them down.

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Crysi

I keep a few online journals to vent, and I keep another journal for freewrites and such. Sometimes the best way to vent is to write a scene about a dark character of mine. It tends to get the anger out very quickly, and I can add to my story at the same time!

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lisajane

I don't keep a journey per se, but keep an idea book, which doubles as a journal. I don't like writing down how I feel. Makes me more depressed.

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NeverHeardOfHer

I keep a journal on my computer. It keeps getting longer and longer. The great thing is that I can search it and go back to things I have written. I can see that I have covered some topic that's been bothering me. It helps me set some issues aside. I say to myself, "I've said what I need to say. It's there if I need it." Then I don't have to run it through my mind over and over. It's part of letting go about some things.

I do not, however, have a journal for writing ideas, etc. I have a file for that. It has totally random scraps stuffed in it. It's a treasure chest.

Smurf Mamita

I have an online journal, but I mostly use it to keep in touch with my friend from my old school.

Sometimes I do write my stories in it though...

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Oracle

I keep an idea book too, but it's apart from my journal. I've got an idea folder for my novel series, plus an additional idea book of ideas for new stories. It's a great way to organize my ideas so that I don't forget them.

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