Writing can heal both mental and physical wounds.

By Irada Yunusova

People often find writing soothing, but did you know that it also has healing capabilities? Recent research from various studies supports the belief that writing about personally distressing events can accelerate the healing process both mentally and physically.

Earlier research has suggested that writing can help individuals heal mentally. One study has found that soldiers returning home from war zones had improved marital satisfaction if they wrote about the disturbing combat experiences. In another study, patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) had improved mood and reduced levels of stress hormones after writing about their difficult experiences. Research has also suggested that individuals who are emotionally open find writing about traumatic events to be soothing, while individuals who are typically stoic actually experience increased anxiety. Although writing about distressing events may not help everyone, there is a clear link between writing and mental health.

Further studies have also looked into writing's effect on physical health. In a recent study, subjects had a small skin biopsy done that left a scar. Half the subjects wrote openly about emotionally traumatic events and the other half wrote about their plans for the next day, avoiding mention of their feelings, beliefs, and opinions. Eleven days after the biopsy, 76% of individuals who wrote about emotional experiences completely healed and only 42% of individuals who wrote about their plans healed completely. In an additional study, viral load in HIV-positive patients lowered for those who wrote about emotional events, as opposed to those who wrote about neutral topics. Such results demonstrated the healing capabilities of writing.

Writing about distressing events can heal mental and physical moods for various reasons. Expressing their thoughts allows individuals to sleep better at night, and sleeping boosts growth hormone levels, enabling injuries to heal. Writing also reduces stress, promoting physical health. It has been suggested that lowering anxiety lowers stress hormones, which may be responsible for slower wound healing. The various helpful aspects of writing support its usefulness in treating both mental and physical wounds.
References: http://healthland.time.com/2013/07/13/how-writing-heals-wounds-of-both-the-mind-and-body/#ixzz2ZDwACb68