Why I Started a Anxiety Journal at Rock Bottom - 7 Reasons You NEED to do the same

Let me be honest with you: starting an anxiety journal when I felt like I was never going to get better was one of the hardest things I've done. I felt like I had nothing to write because I'd stopped feeling and I'd given up hope that was ever going to get better. I remember my "rock-bottom" moment very clearly and I return to it often, mostly as a reminder of how far I've come.

I was up at 5 in the morning to go and sit outside the doctor's office at university, waiting till their 8 am open time. I've been awake for 3 days, had a chest infection and was just at the end of my tether.

Anxious, stressed, and exhausted from battling the chaos life had thrown my way, I was offered medication for my mental health (which I didn't accept) and returned home feeling hopeless to ever reach recovery.

It was that moment when I decided I was willing to do whatever it took and try everything that was offered to me, to get better!

Little did I know that picking up a pen would set me on a path to discovery and healing that I never expected. If you’ve ever thought about journaling, or feel like you need an outlet for your thoughts, here’s why you should just do it!

The Illusion of Safety

I'd be hiding my symptoms (especially OCD) for such a long time, I couldn't imagine at that moment ever wanting to talk to someone about it; but writing, now that was a different scenario altogether.

I quickly realized my journal would provide me with a sanctuary for my thoughts and feelings, without judgement or being given "advice". I was able to express whatever I was thinking and feeling without any repercussions or fear of being alienated.

Every cloud of anxiety and every worried thought found its way onto the pages and it was on those pages I was able to release a lot of myself and things I'd been keeping hidden. This honesty helped me confront my feelings directly, and I began to see patterns in my thoughts that I had previously ignored.

This is why in every Discovery Journal, I've popped in a section called "What I wish I could say out loud". (right there on the right page!) <

We all need a space to explore what we might consider our "darker side" the bit we keep from others and the thoughts we keep stifled.

Clarity Is Found Amongst Chaos

At rock bottom, my mind resembled a whirlwind of confusion, I didn't know why I was the way I was so I had no idea how to fix it. Writing forced me to face my emotions rather than letting them swirl around uncontrollably. I was able to work backwards from my thoughts and find their origins. I learnt that you don't just "feel" things for no reason, they are an indication of something that hasn't been resolved.

For example, after writing about a particularly overwhelming week, I noticed that my stress came from not maintaining personal boundaries, I was saying yes too much to people please, instead of taking some control and saying no. This practice helped me dissect my feelings and uncover truths about my needs and desires that I had buried under layers of overwhelm.

Studies suggest that journaling can reduce stress by up to 30% and there's a bloody good reason for it!

Pain Becomes Purpose

Journaling transformed my pain into purpose, it gave me a project to get my teeth into and the project was ME. The entries became not just outlets for distress but also a foundation for understanding what I wanted to change in my life and a plan for moving forward.

I documented my struggles with anxiety daily and, in doing so, discovered motivating insights. For instance, recognised that I relied on people in my life who I hadn't recognised were doing more harm than good, and they had become a vacuum for my happiness. It wasn't that these people were causing my anxiety, simply that they weren't helping me get better. After I'd realised this I was able to finally have some constructive conversations and understand what I wanted for myself and what boundaries I had to put in place to achieve it.

This way of thinking inspired the section in the Discovery Journals which looks at interactions. I thought this was a simple way of seeing how the people you come into contact with regularly are affecting your mood.

Can you see it? there on the right-hand side at the top. The aim is to see patterns over time.

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Becoming an Author

When I first started journaling, I was writing really small sections. I felt a sense of pressure to write the right thing. It took a while to get out of that mindset and understand that no one is going to read it but me, so it doesn't matter.

As the days and weeks ran past, I became more confident in my writing. Now years on, I can bang out essays without a thought.

Not only am I able to write a lot, I'm able to write about how I'm feeling a lot. It became second nature, and I learnt that the more confident I felt writing, the more confident I felt speaking too.

Writing is a creative outlet and research shows that engaging in creative activities can boost mood and reduce anxiety. It's practical, it's a distraction and it's education. Writing is therapy in itself.

Smashing that invisible routine!

Let’s face it: being consistent is tough! However, journaling most days helped me create a routine that provided needed structure in my life. Anxiety is chaos, it's both predictable and completely unpredictable. It stops your ability to keep a routine, because of the fear it will rear its ugly head and ruin everything you had planned.

Journalling both works with anxiety and against it. It doesn't feel like a massive commitment, but it still becomes routine. (cheeky wins, against anxiety!)

Committing to writing daily developed habits of self-discipline that cascaded into other areas. For example, as I committed to my journaling schedule, I became more intentional about setting other personal goals, I was able to journal every day, so why couldn't I go out every day? Little steps and little challenges, made a huge difference because it's just about reprograming your brain to remember you can do these things.

Your Life Before Your Eyes

It might seem simple, but looking back at my past entries felt profound. Seeing how far I’d come from that rock-bottom moment ignited a sense of accomplishment. Some people don't like to read their journals back, instead opting for throwing them away, burning them or archiving them.

For me, it's important to be able to look back. I tend to struggle with self-doubt and imposter syndrome, so being able to stop and say "Wow, I can't believe that was so important to me" or having a sense of certainty that things that bothered me back then no longer affect me now. It feels good.

For instance, I could trace my progress from struggling to get out of bed to taking my first solo trip abroad. Life’s changes often happen seamlessly, we barely notice they've even happened; however, reflecting on these moments unveiled significant growth. I mean how often do you feel proud of yourself?

I can't tell you how revolutionary tracking can be in terms of understanding yourself and your mental health. Discovery Journals are all about recording, building patterns, finding connections and tracking moods. I wanted to make sure it was as easy as possible to see changes in behaviour and growth over time because it gives you a purpose and lets you see your progress!

Start Tracking with Discovery Journals

Who The Hell Am I Anyway?

Journaling during my lowest moments gave me a chance to peel back layers and connect with who I truly am.

My mental health had gotten so bad that I genuinely didn't know who I was anymore. I could remember things I used to like and be excited about but not with any real clarity and I didn't know if they had just changed with time or whether anxiety had obstructed them.

I began exploring deeper questions about my values, dreams, and what mattered to me through journaling and I was able to trace triggers backwards discover the moments that started my fears and do the work that's led to a real understanding of myself, what I want and what I need for my future.

This self-awareness was transformative. As I unearthed hidden reasons for my feelings and fears, I reconnected with parts of myself that I had almost forgotten.

It's All About You

If you're reading this and feeling a connection to my story, I encourage you to give journaling a shot. The beauty is that it’s YOUR space—mould it as you wish. It doesn’t matter if you write everyday day or only once a month. What matters is connecting with yourself.

I started designing the Discovery Journals after I saw parts of myself in a friend's struggle. I saw pain, overwhelm and confusion.

I designed the journal to be easy to follow and have a purpose (to reduce anxiety).

This segmented way of thinking was beneficial to me as I was finding methods to recover. It may help you to... What have you got to lose? See if you can find a Discovery Journal to suit you today. No point waiting till Monday.