Write it down!

There are so many things that are good about writing.   It helps with grief and trauma and general sadness.  It helps in the short term and in the long term.


Trauma and the benefits of writing about it.


7-tips-for-writing-about-trauma


Writing

It actually helps with physical pain symptoms and causes a rise in immune system functioning.  It's amazing.

Narrative   Apparently it helps much more if you try to write your experiences as a story, as if you were telling someone else, rather than just listing things or writing randomly.  Something about trying to put your thoughts in order to make it understandable as if to another person, helps in the process.


Find a private space and write.  It will be hard, but it will help, both now and in the future and bring about that elusive posttraumatic growth.

Giving.

This is a great article about how giving to charity actually makes you wealthier.  It's very interesting and I believe it's a God thing. 


Why Giving Matters


If you keep reading down to the bottom it says this. 




"People who give to charity are 43 percent more likely than people who don’t give to say they’re very happy people. People who give blood are twice as likely to say they’re very happy people as people who don’t give blood. People who volunteer are happier. The list goes on. You simply can’t find any kind of service that won’t make you happier."


So, find a place to volunteer.  Look at Volunteer Match on line or call a local hospital or Head Start Center and ask to volunteer.  If you are not up to that, give money to a charity, even if it's just a little bit.  Put a quarter in a gumball machine as you walk by and don't get the gumball - let some kid get a great surprise later today.  Pay for the person behind you in the drive through.  Put a note that says "Treat yourself" and a 5 dollar bill in a library book.  (Maybe one about depression?)  Send an anonymous gift to someone.  Send a card to someone you appreciate and thank them.  The list goes on and on and on.  Reach out and make someone else's day brighter and brighten your outlook as well.