A Healing Journey Through Writing
Jenny Ford
By Jenny Ford
A cancer diagnosis is something you never imagine will happen to you – until it does. When I was diagnosed, I went through a whole range of emotions: disbelief, shock, sadness, anger. Then comes the treatment, which brings its own mental, emotional, and physical toll. If you’re reading this and nodding along, please know you’re not alone. I’ve walked this path too.
So, what do you do with all those emotions?
Talking about how we feel is important and can be a powerful release, but for many people, putting those feelings into words can be difficult. You might worry about burdening loved ones or feel like no one could truly understand what you’re going through. That’s where expressive writing can help – it gives your emotions somewhere to go. When feelings are suppressed, they can build up and spill over in unhealthy ways. Expressive writing creates a safe, private way to release those emotions, without needing to censor or explain yourself.
As an author, I know how cathartic writing can be. Writing is second nature to me, but when it came to journaling, it took on a whole new meaning. When I was going through my own cancer journey, I knew I had to release the thoughts racing around in my mind. Writing about my thoughts and emotions allowed me to slow down the whirlwind in my head. It was liberating, bringing me moments of calm in the chaos.
Expressive writing is a useful therapeutic and supportive tool to have. It gives your feelings a voice, helps you acknowledge and understand your emotions, and creates space to process your diagnosis. It helps to heal, empower, and nurture personal growth. It helped me to process what was happening to me, not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually.
Writing in this way can bring up a lot. Thoughts you didn’t know were there, feelings you’ve pushed down. But that’s part of the healing. When we give our emotions a safe outlet, we free ourselves to move forward with more peace and clarity. I must stress that expressive writing is not a replacement for any professional medical support, but it can be gentle companion that can support you mentally and emotionally.
The most important element of expressive writing is that whatever you write, it is meaningful to you. When I journaled, I didn’t always know where to start. But once I allowed the pen to move, the words followed. There is no right or wrong way, only your way. Don’t worry about correcting your spelling and grammar, just get onto the paper or computer what is on your mind at that moment.
But where do I start, what do I write?
The first sentence is often the hardest, especially if you’re not used to writing in this way. Be kind to yourself and just keep writing, the words will come to you eventually. It’s not a race, it’s a process. Whatever you write is private to you and for your eyes only, so don’t hold back.
A cancer diagnosis not only affects us physically, but it can also have an impact on our mental health. This is why releasing the thoughts and feelings we are going through is so important. We may not have control over what our body is going through, but we can choose how we respond to these experiences. Writing gives you a space to take back some control.
So, what are the benefits of expressive writing?
While we might know that we ourselves could use writing to help us heal, we can be confident that such an idea is in fact, supported by science. Scientific studies have shown that writing about your experiences and emotions can:
- Help you identify and understand your feelings.
- Increase emotional awareness.
- Provide a space for authentic self-expression.
- Support your mental health and reduce anxiety.
- Aid in coping with trauma.
- Strengthen your immune system.
- Lower blood pressure.
- Offer clarity and peace of mind.
- Improve overall well-being.
Daily prompts to support your mind, body, and spirit:
- One thing I wish people understood about what I’m going through is…
- One positive thing I’ve discovered about myself during this time is…
- Even on hard days, my body supports me by…
- What small act of kindness can I offer my body today?
- What gives me hope right now, no matter how small?
- Picture yourself healthy and at peace — what does that look and feel like?
- List 10 things you are grateful for in this moment.
Jenny Ford is a cancer survivor, award-winning author, and creator of Write to Release an expressive writing program for healing mind, body, and spirit. To learn more, visit writetorelease.com.
