Christina Christou - Write Therapy: Using the Power of Writing to Heal the Past and Create a Life You Want

First published in 2014 by:

Britains Next Bestseller
An imprint of Live It Publishing
27 Old Gloucester Road
London, United Kingdom.
WC1N 3AX

www.britainsnextbestseller.co.uk

Copyright 2014 by Christina Christou
The moral right of Christina Christou to be identified as the author
of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved.

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ISBN 978-1-906954-88-8 (pbk)

DEDICATION

To my younger self, who always dreamt of
becoming a published author

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I want to firstly thank BNBS and all the wonderful staff, for giving me this unique platform to showcase my work. Next, I thank all the beautiful souls who dared believe in me and ordered my book, whether they were interested in self-help, writing or books in general. They are the ones that have actually made this happen

A big thank you goes to all my friends who proofread my first copies: Anne; Honour and Alice; the beautiful Delilah; and not forgetting Flori who couldnt open the document on her computer. You all gave me your priceless advice in your own individual ways. Also, thanks to Chris, my talented brother, who at short notice (a few hours) came up with a brilliant video for my book page.

I thank all the mentors and spiritual teachers whose books I have read, or I have been privileged to meet. One mentor, author and friend is Alison Ward, who showed me that to be spiritual you dont need to be all fairy dust and butterflies. In contrast, with her kickass attitude she showed me that being real was more important.

I want to thank my beautiful mum who I have always seen as my role model, something she would never have believed when I was growing up. I used to complain she was too soft, too subservient. But as I became a mother myself, a new respect for her grew and I saw her huge strength underneath those quiet unassuming ways. She is my inspiration and has given me the courage to deal with my many ordeals in life.

I thank my angels and God for gracing my life with their patience and love, always being there in joy and pain comforting me, and being my cheering party. And my family, I thank them for being my biggest teachers in life, pushing me to extremes with their colourful ways.

Lastly, Peter, my long suffering partner, I thank you for being my constant, loyal companion on my journey of self-discovery. Without you I may have still got there, but it would have been not as fun.

AUTHORS NOTE

What is Write Therapy?

Writing is a form of therapy: sometimes I wonder how all those who do not write, compose or paint can manage to escape the madness, melancholia, the panic and fear which is inherent in a human situation.

Graham Greene

Write Therapy is as the title states using the power of writing to heal your past and write the life you want. You dont have to be a professional writer to benefit from the exercises in this book. This is not a lesson in correct grammar, punctuation or language. Write Therapy is an accessible way to tap into your emotions and find release with the power of writing!

This book evolved from my own experiences of using writing to heal. I have used journaling to express my feelings, fears and worries. As a teenager I used to find clarity and peace through poetry; the rhyming and separation of thoughts into verse seemed to clear my mixed up mind, helping me deal with emotional turmoil.

I have carried on writing through my adult life, exploring subjects that have troubled me. Each painful event has fuelled my need to write, to help unravel the pain and the confusion.

When my mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer, my despair led me to question everything. I started to write letters to God. I was angry and wanted answers to why this was happening.

I wrote back to myself as if God was answering. I found it cathartic and comforting. It became a way I could connect with my pain, confusion and grief, finding solace and peace in writing.

I have experienced the healing powers of writing, using the exercises and ideas that are introduced in this book. Write Therapy can also help you heal from past trauma (including anxiety, depression and grief) and create the life you want.

Before you begin, I suggest you read through the entire book. Make notes in the sections that speak to you, coming back to them as you need to.

The main concepts in Write Therapy are an insight into how our lives are shaped by our thoughts. Even though there is an intended order to the chapters, you can read them in any order and still gain something.

Most chapters have exercises relating to the subject being covered. Try the exercises, but if one doesnt work for you try something else. The aim is to feel better, not more anxious. The exercises are to be used as complementary tools. Incorporate them into your other daily routines.

There will be life situations where professional help may be needed. For example, with grief and depression, the isolation of introspection can sometimes be counterproductive. Again, only continue with an exercise if it brings relief.

Write Therapy will take you on a journey of self-discovery. As the past is released you will begin to feel a sense of calm and forgiveness, for yourself and others. As your perception changes you will begin to feel more in control and able to create the life you really want.

Happy writing!

INTRODUCTION: DEAR DIARY

Writing is the best way to talk without being interrupted.

Jules Renard

I loved keeping diaries as a young girl. I have had ones with a lock and key, pretty ones with butterflies and also one where I wrote with invisible ink. It was a place where I could record my day, mention who I fancied and vent my frustrations.

In my teens, I kept a diary where I started exploring my emotions. I didnt write every day, but each time I struggled with a problem, I found solace in writing. I felt as if I could reach the depths of my soul, uncovering secrets I never thought I had.

I felt very protective of my words. I knew that in the wrong hands it would leave me open to ridicule. Even so, I wanted to share my expressions with my loved ones despite the fear of being mocked.

The following verse of a poem I wrote was an easy target for mockery:

I cry and cry until my eyes are dry,

I am near to giving up,

I have no will to try

(The full poem can be found in the appendix.)

I promised myself that whoever I allowed to read my diary would be very special

Not many years later I was engaged to be married and I thought I would share the well-guarded secrets of my soul. The ramblings of a teenagers mind were not met in the way my heart had longed for. I was devastated!

My heart felt as if it had been ripped from its cavity, bruising my romantic visions, scarring me with the message;

Your feelings are unimportant.

I was so hurt that I took the written evidence of my youth and burnt it in a symbolic act of burning away my past. It was many years before I kept a diary again