Scribblings of a Psychotherapist

  Journal-Writing Living a hectic lifestyle and one that is filled with a lot of stress and distress can make it easy to lose track of those little things are so important: not only in relationship and in work, but in keeping healthy and looking after our emotional well-being.   Each stop on the road to achieving a balanced life, healthy lifestyle and increased sense of wellbeing is equally important.   A journal can be your companion to change. Studies have shown that writing things down aids the identification and achievement of goals, increases your motivation and aids positivity. There is nothing more satisfying than reaching a milestone and rewarding you for it: it may be a simple tick in the box, a lie in, a massage or a holiday.   Define it, write it down and tick it off. Use your journal to reflect on you goals, the steps you have taken, the achievements you have made and reflect your success and victories in life....no matter how small or trivial they may seem. Every step is a

''It's like a rolleroaster at times and I don't know what to do''. What it's like to experience anxiety and low mood, sometimes at the same time, from someone we have worked with in therapy (quote posted with permission).   ''Sometimes I feel like I'm on high alert and constantly watching and anticipating something bad happening. I don't even know what bad thing will happen, it's just this feeling I get and it's awful. I feel sick, agitated, sometimes my heart races, sometimes I feel faint. I can't sleep well because I am worrying about stuff...it's not even important stuff either. My brain never rests, I am always planning the next thing to do or worrying about things that might not even happen. As I said, it's not just affecting sleep; I can't relax, I've noticed I'm more impatient than usual; I am eating more to comfort myself and I seem to be doing millions at thinsg at once. I don't even know why I fee