Are you feeling overwhelmed?
If you find it hard to manage your emotions or clarify your stress, maybe consider journaling. It could really help.
Mental health professionals in the Toronto area, like Shauna Thibodeau, emphasize the importance of journaling. It’s a beneficial way to express complex emotions and gain insight.
“My work encompasses both light and dark aspects,” Thibodeau remarked. “We’re learning techniques to address challenging emotions such as stress and anxiety, while also nurturing a sense of positivity.”
Her journaling practice was inspired by Dr. John Sarno, a notable figure who believed that releasing suppressed emotions through writing could alleviate chronic pain.
The prompts include phrases like “I’m angry…” or “I’m stressed…”.
“Just let it all out,” she advises. “No filters are needed. Write down exactly what you feel.”
Try to spend at least 10 minutes on this. Once you’ve written, acknowledge those feelings as valid.
“You might say, ‘This anger is here, and that stress is here,’” she added.
Then, allow yourself a moment of reflection.
After writing, consider what the opposite of those feelings might be. For instance, if you’re feeling stressed, think about what inner peace looks like for you.
Next, try closing your eyes and taking a deep breath, letting go of any tension, especially in areas like your forehead and belly.
“Those are common spots for holding stress,” Thibodeau noted.
On your next breath in, welcome in love, repeating the word with each inhalation.
“What we really need is love,” she reiterated. “By finding it within ourselves, we stop seeking it from elsewhere.”
Add to your list of opposites one at a time, and express gratitude for what you wrote.
“This process starts to open up new pathways for you,” she explained. “Interesting things can happen as you deepen your practice.”
Thibodeau herself discovered meditation while grappling with depression during nursing school. She became certified and now teaches full-time, focusing primarily on women in their 20s and 30s. Some of her clients are navigating mental health struggles, while others aim to reach their highest potential.
Her approach combines cognitive behavioral therapy with energy healing and visualization techniques.
She emphasizes the importance of everyday practices, dubbing journaling as “SOS” exercises.
“Often, we feel ashamed of our emotions,” she said. “Journaling provides a way to release them healthily.”
In addition, Thibodeau runs retreats focusing on healing. She recently published “Shining Light,” a memoir that explores her journey through darkness to healing, influenced by personal loss.
She believes the book can benefit those struggling with various emotional challenges and can even assist in manifesting greater success and abundance.
