#mental health prompts

[gigi-journaling]

The Expressive Writing Paradigm-Processing Trauma

Journaling and Your Health

💛Come join our journaling community on tumblr here! 💛

The “expressive writing paradigm” refers to the original study published by James W. Pennebaker in 1986–“Confronting a traumatic event: Toward an understanding of inhibition and disease.”—that has since forth launched the ongoing research on the effect of therapeutic writing on mental and physical health.

Pennebaker’s original study examined the physical and mental health symptoms of participants who were instructed to write about their traumatic events for 4 consecutive days for 15 minutes.

The study concluded that while participants experience the short-term effects of higher blood pressure and emotional distress immediately after writing sessions, the long-term effects saw an improvement of physical and mental health symptoms attributed to its cathartic effect.

Long-term effects noted decreased blood pressure, anxiety, muscle tension, pain, and stress; as well as increased autoimmune responses, sleep quality, and improved work/productivity performance.

Instructions and sample prompts:

“For the next four days, I would like you to write your very deepest thoughts and feelings about the most traumatic experience of your entire life, or an extremely important emotional issue. You might tie your topic to other parts of your life: your childhood, your relationships with others, your past, present or future. All of your writing is confidential. Don’t worry about spelling, grammar or sentence structure. The only rule is that once you begin writing, you continue until the time is up.”

Day 1:

Today, your goal is to write your deepest thoughts and feelings about the trauma or emotional upheaval that has been influencing your life the most. As you write about this upheaval, you might begin to tie it to other parts of your life. How is this event related to who you have been in the past, who you would like to be in the future, and who you are now? Do not forget that this writing is for you and you alone.

Day 2:

In your previous writing session, you were asked to explore your thoughts and feelings about a trauma or emotional upheaval that has affected you deeply. In today's writing, your task is to continue exploring your very deepest emotions and thoughts about that event, situation, or experience. You can write about the same trauma or upheaval as yesterday's, or you can choose a different one. Begin thinking about how this upheaval is, right now, affecting your life in general and perhaps whether you might be responsible for some of the effects of the trauma.

Day 3:

In your writing today, focus on the same topics you have been examining or shift your focus to another trauma or to another feature of the same trauma. Your primary goal is to continue focusing and elaborating on your emotions, as well as the thoughts about those events that are affecting your life the most right now.

Day 4:

This is the final day of the four-day writing exercise. As with the previous days' writings, explore your deepest emotions and thoughts about those upheavals and issues in your life that are most important and troublesome for you. In your writing, try to tie up anything that you haven't yet confronted. Really let go in your writing and be honest with yourself about this upheaval. Do your best to wrap up the entire experience into a meaningful story that you can take with you into the future.

Articles: (Write your secrets), (James Pennebaker’s Expressive Writing Paradigm, (Sample Prompts)

[whump-in-the-closet]

weak in the knees for situations where a stoic whumpee allows someone to help them. they don't say a word of acceptance but they don't protest either. Too injured to say no and too tired to deny they need it. Just grudgingly letting a gentle hand guide them to a bed or to wrap a wound. Then a quiet, "thank you." in between sharp breathing as they try not to break down in front of someone else. Love love love shielded vulnerability

[glitchdollmemoria]

please can we stop describing bigots as delusional. please. im so fucking tired. someone being sucked into a hate group surrounded by others who believe minorities should be oppressed and encouraging them to believe in conspiracy theories that the rest of the group believes, is fundamentally different from someone having a mental illness that causes delusions.

delusions, by definition, cannot be explained by things like cultural background - such as having a belief constantly reinforced by intentional attempts to rationalize it for the sake of maintaining power over minorities. yes, someone can be both delusional and a bigot, and yes conspiracy theories can feed into delusions, but the two are not fucking synonymous.

i did not spend my teen years convinced that i was being stalked by demons just to hear so many of you people equate my disability with incel behavior and genocidal propaganda. stop reinforcing harmful connotations about mental health struggles.

[finemealprompt]

DP x DC Prompt #19

When Danny's team member asked him for a favor, Danny agreed before hearing him out. "What else are Titans for?" he had said, but really it's because none of the bats ever asked for favors. He was nosey, sue him.

However, he wasn't expecting to meet crime lord Red Hood and be asked to help with his "Pit Madness" or whatever.

Danny's sigh and hanging of his head seemingly worried the bats. He doesn't think the answer to their problems they were looking for was, "Go to therapy."

[messyoungie]

₊❏❜ ⋮ journaling prompts ─ ✧₊∘

✧ here’s a list of some of my favorite journal prompts that I hope will inspire you to pick up a notebook and write :)

◦when do you feel most like yourself

◦is there anything you’re not being honest about with yourself

◦what are you most afraid of others finding out about you

◦what boundaries do you need to set with yourself

◦when are you most “present” or “in the moment”

◦how often do you actually show up for yourself

◦what’s your focus been on lately

◦what past version of you do you like the most

◦what past version of you do you dislike the most

◦what is it that makes you cling to the things that drain you

◦think of the people you’re closest to in life and what you’re most scared to tell them

◦where are you living 90% of the time— in the past, present, future? in the real world or in the digital world?

◦when do you feel like you need to punish yourself

◦in what ways do you put off having your desires/stand in your own way

[youneedsomeprompts]

~ IN A VOID ~ FORESHADOWING DEPRESSION PROMPTS

requested by: @crochet-cafe request: How can I foreshadow or hint that my character has severe depression? I want to make the reveal a big deal when it happens and catch readers off guard

Feel free to use and reblog!

having other characters associate the person's mood with their character traits ("they're always grumpy")

masking their depression really well but being absolutely drained and a lot worse as soon as they're alone

appearing as a 'neutral' person, when their neutral mood actually indicates the emptiness they feel inside

their growing passivity makes them fade into the background

the more excited other people get the more downcast the person becomes (they get perceived as a killjoy)

they don't accept invitations anymore

they always say they're busy but can't answer the question what exactly they're doing

they show no emotional reaction in a fight

everyone says about the person that they have such a hard shell

they usually have been very caring and sensitive to everyone around them but suddenly they seem like they couldn't care less

for more inspiration/how to help: ~ SHOWING SUPPORT FOR SOMEONE WITH DEPRESSION ~ WRITING PROMPTS

note: If you or someone you know feels that way and really needs help, please seek professional help <3

[audreys-diaryy]

[gigi-journaling]

What can you do to take better care of yourself today?

[It can be as simple as wearing your favorite sweater. Add it to your agenda and bring a little more comfort and peace to your day 💛]

[nastylittleghouls]

Dewdrop: I can't believe this! Aether: Believe what? Dewdrop: That you'd do this to me! Aether: *actually getting worried* What...did I do? Dewdrop: *grabs Aether's face and squishes his cheeks hard before knocking their horns together* YOU'RE MAKING YOURSELF LOOK CUTE AGAIN. STOP IT. I AM TOO GAY FOR THIS!

[parasiticstars]

[proud box baby owner voice] “see the reason your pets are all miserable is you don’t feed them shit. They’re all skin and bones and sunken in eyes. Not mine though. They’re got meat on them. Some substance. When I throw mine into The Basement they’re perfectly padded and comfortable.”

[irondadmadlads]

Irondad Prompt #204:

Tony is planning to adopt Peter (May’s dead? AU? It’s up to you). However, Peter worries that if Tony finds out he struggles with mental illness, the man won’t want him anymore. Peter tries to hide his symptoms from Tony.

[theres-whump-in-that-nebula]

Hypervigilant Characters

A character goes to the dentist or other place which requires they lie down on their back; they keep their arms firmly crossed over their belly/chest at all times because they don’t like leaving that area exposed and believe it to be a weakness to not protect it.

Always having to sit facing the door in an unfamiliar place, in case someone dangerous comes through it.

Hearing people (especially children) screaming or yelling outside scares the shit out of them every time; because they think someone’s been injured or is being abused by someone else. They have to peek outside to make sure everything’s okay; it always is.

Having to check every closet, nook, crevice, behind every door whenever they get home in case someone is in their house who shouldn’t be.

Noticing instantly when the tiniest of the tiniest things are out of place on anyone and anything.

If they can’t find something, their mind always goes “someone stole it” even when it’s highly improbable, or even impossible to be true.

Having unnaturally fast reflexes that can catch practically anything no matter how sudden.

Becoming skittish and flighty in situations in which they do not have complete control over their environment.

Purposefully carrying oneself with an intimidating affect and behaving more confidently and dangerously as their level of fear increases.

Preferring booths to tables in restaurants because booths are more enclosed and therefore safer, or so they believe.

Staring down and acting menacingly towards any potential hiding spaces when they walk past them in the dark.

Scanning hotel rooms and public bathrooms for cameras and audio bugs; and/or always assuming they are being spied upon.

Refusing to cough within earshot of other people because they either believe people will judge them for being unsanitary, or that it’s a sign of weakness.

Stone cold facial expressions and purposefully being ambiguous to everyone.

Refusing to show any skin at all during the summer months because heavy clothes are their armor.

Keeping an eye on everyone in general, wherever they go.

[hersurvival]

they told me to eat a lemon peel and wait 45 minutes, for euphoria, and what did i have to lose by biting through that bitter rind other than a lingering acrid taste on the back of my tongue, like bile in the back of my throat. low risk for the reward of activating the pineal gland, of being washed over by euphoria, opening that elusive third eye of perception.

but nothing happened.

now i am high as hell in a bed not mine, alone, after my baby brother's wedding.

still waiting for the valve to open, for the flow of that ancient greek pneuma, that breath, to tap that unassuming pinecone of an organ of excess and delirium open, calling to the goddess of strife and discord through the taste of zest, to channel this incessant rage, turn chaos into coping.

the stars are so far away, unable to be caressed as they're dying, already dead, light taking ages to fade, to blink out of existence. so far away from here, in a black sea of nothing, abysmal and freezing. poke holes in me, pinpricks, i wonder if i too can shine from within, if my void holds any light that won't be noticed when it fades.

@nosebleedclub June 29th - Lemon Rind

[minty364]

DPXDC Prompt #135

What if Danny was around during the Joker jr incident. I haven’t actually read the comics or anything but I have read a few fics that mention it so just bear with me for a moment.

Harley wanted twins and of course her boyfriend would deliver so both Tim and Danny are kidnapped. Danny was visiting Gotham with his family and unfortunately was hit with the Plasmius Maximus as Vlad was pulling one of his schemes. Danny wasn’t happy about his powers being inaccessible in a big dangerous city.

Of course something happens and Danny and someone else get kidnapped. He and someone named Tim get kidnapped by the Joker of all people. Neither of them have a good time.

So I just watched Joker last night and I just want to say to everyone to keep up with your mental health, that’s something I heavily have to do myself. I really appreciate all of the comments reblogs and likes I’ve gotten on my posts.

[theereina]

Thursday, July 27

[whump-or-whatever]

Non-verbal Anxiety/Stress Indicators

For all those whumpees who try to hide how they're feeling from others or might not even realize themselves what they're feeling.

Wringing hands

Tapping/shaking foot or leg

Rubbing hand along leg or arm

Fidgeting with sleeve/zipper/loose string/etc.

Body-focused repetitive behaviours (twirling hair, biting nails, picking at skin, etc.)

Pacing/rocking/inability to sit still

Tapping fingers

Touching/rubbing face

Holding on to a comforting item

Darting eyes

Positioning oneself with back to wall/facing door

Looking around for potential exists/sources of danger

Staring unseeingly into the distance

Trying to make oneself seem smaller (slouching, crossed arms, curling up, leaning on something, etc.)

Angling body away from others

Avoiding eye contact

Tense facial features (clenched jaw, furrowed brow, pursed lips etc.)

Stiff body and posture

Cold hands/chills

Clammy hands/sweating

Numbness in extremities/chest pain

Being unresponsive/unable to speak

Quick shallow breathing/difficulty getting a full breath

Paler than usual complexion

Feel free to add any others y'all can think of!