Expressive writing is easy. Just sit down and write about something that is bothering you. It’s simple and there is no right or wrong way to do it.
This website gives you some ways to try out expressive writing to help you deal with the COVID-19 outbreak. By writing about your thoughts and feelings for as little as 5-10 minutes, you may change the ways you are thinking, feeling, and even sleeping.
Expressive writing has been around for over 30 years. Hundreds of experiments have demonstrated its effectiveness in improving people’s mental and physical health. By putting emotional upheavals into words, we start to understand them better. Once we have a better handle on our problems, we can move forward and get on with life.
These pages were designed as coping tools for people who are trying to deal with the COVID-19 outbreak. In reality, expressive writing can work for any issues you may be thinking or worrying about - major or minor.
To start, plan to spend at least 5-10 minutes (or longer, if you want) writing about one of the topics below. The basic instructions are for you to write about your deepest thoughts and feelings about the topic without worrying about spelling, grammar, or sentence structure. Just write.
For most studies, people are encouraged to find a private place to write where you won’t be disturbed. Your writing is for you and only you. Although you will receive a copy at the end, what you do with it is your decision. Typically, people are encouraged to write about the same general topic 2-4 times, but that is up to you.
We recommend you start with the traditional prompt, one that asks you to explore your thoughts and feelings about COVID-19. After you have written, you will fill out a very brief survey and then a computer will analyze what you have written. You will then get feedback about your survey and the ways you have written. You can then either print your writing and feedback directly or we can email it to you.
For the next 5-10 minutes (or longer if you like), really let go and explore your deepest thoughts and feelings about the COVID-19 outbreak. How is it affecting you and the people around you? How is it related to other significant experiences in your life? Or how are you dealing with feelings such as anxiety or isolation? Really try to address those issues most important and significant for you.
COVID-19 has changed the way most people interact with others around them. How is your social world changing? How are you handling the changes in physical and social distance? Does the COVID outbreak make you feel alone or isolated? This might also be an opportunity to write about your feelings concerning some of your friendships that may be changing.
For a large number of people, the current situation is having a major impact on their work life and their financial situation. If these topics are important for you, this might be a good time to write about them. In your writing you might touch on your emotions and thoughts concerning money, changes in relationships with coworkers, clients, managers, or others, or the very nature of your job.
The spread of the COVID-19 virus is a threat to people’s physical and mental health. Many people are justifiably frightened about the disease because it can kill people of all ages. If you are fundamentally concerned about your own or others’ health or even the prospect of death, you might write about the nature of your thoughts and anxieties and analyze why you feel the way you do.
The COVID-19 is one of the most anxiety-provoking experiences that our culture has experienced in a generation. If you are feeling high levels of fear and uncertainty, use this time to look inward and ask yourself, why are you so anxious? What is the root of this uncertainty? What would be healthy ways to cope with it? In this exercise, really try to analyze your feelings of uncertainty about the future in order to better understand them.
Many romantic and other family relationships have been changing because of COVID-19. With shelter-in-place rules, your living arrangements have likely changed which may be affecting your feelings about privacy, loneliness, or the kinds of interactions you would like to have. For some this could be a positive experience, a negative experience, or even both. If this is something you would benefit writing about, use this opportunity to explore your thoughts and feelings about your current relationships with others.
Many people are thinking about some of the basic aspects of their lives. If this is true for you, please use this time to explore your thoughts and feelings about some of the basic directions or purpose in your life. How might you be thinking differently about your goals and the ways you are approaching work, family, spiritual issues, your life’s meaning, and related big questions. How might you take advantage of this time?
Many people have seen their education and educational plans disrupted. Some things about school life may never be rescheduled or replaced. Write your deepest thoughts and feelings about how COVID-19 has changed your life as a student. You might think about how these school-related changes have affected your plans for the future, your interactions with teachers and classmates, the topics you are studying, and even your life at a real campus.
The COVID-19 Social Psychological Survey.
The COVID-19 Survey is an online questionnaire that takes 15-20 minutes to complete. A series of questions are included that ask about the ways people are thinking about and responding to the current coronavirus outbreak. Individuals who complete the survey will get specific feedback about their coping strategies along with information that might help them deal with the current uncertainties.
The Language and Personality Project.
Experimental tests and exercises from the Language and Personality lab. These tests are diverse and
would
give you feedback on various facets of your personality.