Writing as Therapy

Last night was not a good night for a myriad of reasons. Work, stress, more stress...but anyway, enough of that.

While taking a long, hot shower (why is it ideas always come to us in the shower?) I had a great idea for a short story based on my evening. And as soon as I was able, I opened up Microsoft Word on my computer and started typing. I typed for probably an hour and the time just flew by. I didn't stop to edit, didn't stop to stare at the page and wonder what to write next - I just wrote.

And by the time I was done, I had a complete short story. Rough, but complete. And boy, did I ever feel better. I felt like I'd cleansed my soul from all the gunk that had been clinging to it from the evening's activities. I went to bed feeling exhausted, but strangely refreshed.

This isn't the first time I've used writing as a form of therapy. I remember when I had a relationship go south on me in college. I wrote a novella of it, and put the male character through the ringer. After I was finished, I felt incredibly better.

I've also written pages and pages in my journal when I've been upset, or just sat down at the computer and wrote, a sort of stream of consciousness. It has a way of emptying the well of bad emotions and making me feel rejuvenated. I've also written poetry when the mood strikes, usually when I need to deal with a difficult situation or work through some rough emotions.

Have you ever used writing as therapy?