Michael Teninty, FVOP & Lisa Regina, A Write to Heal 

Paper 

It is not a new idea by any means, but there is significant evidence available to endorse journaling as a way to process trauma, wrangle anxiety from the free range of your heart, mind, and soul. For those of us with some measure of post-traumatic stress, journaling can help you order your thoughts and maybe assist you with making sense of the insensible. It appears that the mere act of writing down your troubles can begin to break the bonds that hold them so firmly in your conscienceless. 

Pen 

Journaling can be as simple, or as complex as you wish, as long as it works. Simply, go get your little green book, you know the one that was standard issue from supply, get a writing stick and start writing. I suggest the following prompts: 

• Today I did… 

• Yesterday I felt… 

• There was a time when I ( felt ) ( did ) ( didn’t do )… 

• What is in your way? What obstacles are preventing you from being happy, accomplishing your goals 

• What is the last thing you think about before you go to sleep? 

• What is the first thing on your mind when you wake up each day? 

• If you could make a movie of your life, how would you like to see it play out? 

Add everything your mind comes up with; there are no rules. Most folks will eventually just start putting words on the page like water flowing in a stream. I you’re stuck with what to write, write down a name, or a place, or a time, and just see what follows. A good approach has always been writing in a stream of consciousness. No boundaries, no worries about grammar or structure, or spelling being correct. This style of free form writing is the most liberating. It’s a release of fragmented words, thoughts and phrases, you can organize them later, or not at all, just get it out. 

Peace 

The act of writing down your thoughts about trauma, or military service, or both, can be cathartic all by itself. You make your thoughts into reality. If you write something that startles you or affects your emotions intensely, that can ease your heart. You may determine after letting your thoughts loose on paper that you might wish to talk with someone who can coach you to a place of peace and wellbeing; and there is no shortage of resources to assist in that effort. 

Peace may also be found in burning the pages when you are done writing them, a symbolic way to release the pain associated with the events placed to paper. 

Progress 

When your heart and mind have released the black balloons and dark clouds of anxiety, worry, emotion, guilt, grief, and a host of other impediments to health and happiness, you’ll be able to better focus and enjoy maybe time with your family; be more productive in you livelihood, and be a mentor to others who are still lost in the emotional forrest. 

Prepare 

The AMAC Foundation Veteran Outreach Program ( FVOP ) stands by to assist. Supplies are limited, but send us a message and we’ll send you some resources: soundoff@amacfoundation.org