Why Should You Be Keeping A Journal?

As you know, many, many teens from all around the world write in to HelpingTeens and ask for the help and guidance that they need. Being on staff for over 6 months, I have seen a lot of help requests. They vary from depression, suicide, sexual issues, family problems, friend issues, etc. There is one piece of advice that I have found very useful in replying to at least ONE request every day: TRY KEEPING A JOURNAL.

I know that a lot of people thing that writing in a journal is just for GIRLS, or poetic people, or things like that. But journal writing can be a helpful and releasing experience. There are tons of different kinds of journals. Personally, I have an English journal (a requirement at my school), a personal journal, and a few journals with my friends. And they help me get things off of my mind that bother me.

Some people write in and say they have so much going on in their life with family, school, friends, and any other sort of problem someone might have. A lot of times people say that they want to say something, or talk to someone, but they can't because they don't feel comfortable. Well, they can tell someone! They can let it out in a journal. A journal is where you can just let everything out and put it all on paper however you feel and you have the security of knowing you can get it out of your system without anyone else knowing. (that is, unless you CHOOSE to show them your journal).

Now that we have cleared up the fact that journals CAN be useful to EVERYONE. A journal is a journal let's leave it at that. But everyone has their own way of letting their feelings come out. Here is a list of how some people express themselves in a journal or journals:

• Just writing in their own words how their day went and anything that is on their mind.
• Writing a story, not necessarily with them in it, but about someone in a situation like their own.
• Poetry
• Drawing
• Word art. Writing a word with a picture. Examples include: if you were in a really good mood, maybe write the word happy in a bubbly kind of letters, or if you were very sad or upset shape the letters of the word LOST (or something) in the shape of teardrops.
• Let the words go onto the paper as they come out of your mind. They don't even have to make sense, or be in like sentences or paragraphs. However you feel works.
• Write a letter to someone that you will NEVER have to send.

Those are just a few and I have to admit, I have used each one of them at least once! They just help to let out what you are feeling is building up inside of you and you can let them out without telling the world something personal.

Online Journal Sites
(They allow you to keep a journal online)

• http://www.blurty.com/
• http://www.livejournal.com/
• http://www.deadjournal.com/
• http://www.diaryland.com/
• http://www.inthewire.com/
• http://www.easyjournal.com/
• http://www.diary-x.com/