For me it's a way of releasing pent up frustrations of just tabling thoughts and ideas and I find it quite helpful because it makes my thoughts more visible (even if I do delete it after I've written it...at least for me it's not all bottled up anymore)

I find them helpful... I can rant & vent things out safely without hurting peoples feelings just cuz I'm upset & sensitive. I have trouble expressing thigns to peoples faces/

I was skeptical too. I figured journaling was just more psycho bullshit (sorry if I just insulted anyone). But, it does help me get my thoughts out, especially if I don't want to burden anyone else or post a topic on the boards for discussion. Also, it's really helpful when people comment on what I write. I've received a lot of really good comments that have given me insight into my problems. Without journaling (on DS anyway), I wouldn't have that input.

sometimes yes sometimes no. it's a nice feature to have though and i like that i can keep it private.

they say to just start writing and see what comes out. I find that is true, and yes they help me. If I end up with something to personal, I can lock it for just me, or my friends. Or, heck, I sometimes just write, and write, then go back and delete and delete. It is usually the deleted things that help me the most.

Ok, thanks. So although I'm tired and so it was short, I did make an entry, I won't say I feel better, but maybe am thinking about things a littel less so that I cvan go to sleep. Maybe I'll try again tommorow.
THank YOu.

I agree with charlie and the rest of the gang! The journaling REALLY helps me. I used to write in a notebok every single day, until somebody found it (ooppss) but now I journal here.

it helps me to know I am not burdening people in a post. If people want to rad it they can, if not I am not being a pest to everybody else!

Great topic. I journal on regular basis, and it helps. I do keep it locked except for friends, just my preference. Gets it outa my system.

Just knowing I put something down in words in front of me makes me feel more productive. It's when I ramble about my misery for hours on the phone that I feel terribly overwhelmed afterwards. It kind of helps me to mentally organize my thoughts when I type them, even if I destroy my writing later.

I think it just helps me out because instead of completely blowing up, I actually have to focus on typing, which gives me a few minutes to just blow off steam, and usually by the time I'm done writing, I'm much more calm than before, even if I really do hate writing, it seems to help.

With a pen and paper journal, I get stuck. On here, I can express how Im feeling that day. It might be my emotions or it might be a poem I found or a picture I just want to share. I find that I can tell my darkest secrets here block my journal for just friends and that the friends I have are supportive and loving. When Im feeling a certain way I can rely on my friends to tell me the truth or see another side of street I hadnt considered. Its wonderful.

g'day I find it helps me to vent my anger and i can keep a log of how i have been going so as i know if my treatments are working or not. I have never journaled b4 and im new here also. But it helps me.