How to reduce agony with a ‘Grief Journal!’

Slide 1: How to reduce agony with a ‘Grief Journal!’

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Slide 2: What is a grief journal?

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It is a personal record of your feelings that helps you express your negative emotions or grief through writing.

A grief journal can be any notebook with blank pages to express your pain.

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Slide 3: What does a Grief Journal include?

• Tasks and prompts that help you accept the reality of the experience.

• Activities that monitor your progress and analyze the changes according to the magnitude of grief.

• Questions that allow you to imagine yourself in difficult situations, mould your thinking process, and improve your decision-making.

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Slide 4: What more can I add to a grief journal?

• You can attach pictures and quotes in the journal that motivate you to overcome grief.

• A set of questions such as, “To what degree did I experience pain today?” and “How did I deal with it?” allow you to have a conversation with yourself.

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Slide 5: Example:

Q: Describe how you feel today in three words.

A: Sad, scared, and lonely.

Q: Name any three activities that help you divert your attention to cope with pain.

A: Music, puzzles, and watering plants.

Q: What is your fondest memory with your loved one?

A: Staying up late and watching our favourite shows together.

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Slide 6: Grief Journals helped most people cope with agony and express themselves in the face of adversity.

There is no specific way of writing the journals and no particular format.

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Slide 7: If you are in serious need of expressing or overcoming pain, a grief journal can be your listener, but if the grief persists over a while, it is advised to consult a therapist.