0:11
You're listening to the Journal Party podcast where every week we get together for the ultimate journal jam session as we journal through life together as a community. My name's Alex Galler, and I'll be your host. So, Here's how it works. I'll give you a journal prompt and a groove, and you just start writing. After a few minutes, you'll hear a little bell that sounds like this, and we'll move on to the next prompt. After a couple minutes, you'll hear that bell again, and we'll move on to the next prompt and we'll just keep going on like that until we're finished. Feel free to write on whatever you like or even just follow along in your car. If you finish before the bell, you can try to dig deeper and elaborate or just chill out and enjoy the tunes. Don't overthink it. There's no wrong way to do this, so welcome to the party journal party. What's up, party people. Hope everyone's feeling good and ready for another journal jam session with your favorite guided journaling podcast host. I'm just grateful that I could actually do this week's episode because I had some oral surgery a few days ago and I've been in recovery and I actually wasn't sure that I was gonna be able to. Host this week because my mouth was all messed up, but no worries. Everything went okay and now I'm feeling much better now, but it did get me thinking, how did it get so bad in the first place? Well, I. Tried my best to be honest with myself. And the reality is, is I avoided the dentist for way longer than I should have. And so my issues got worse. And here we are. So why did I avoid going? Well? I don't think I'm alone in hating going to the dentist, but upon taking a closer look, it was fear-based. I have some serious health anxiety going on, especially with my mouth. And I guess there was the fear of what. Could go wrong and how much it could cost. And I guess I sort of convinced myself that I should just ignore it. So clearly that was a bad idea. But what do we do when life gives us a challenge or a correction, a lesson, if you will? Well, I like to reflect and try to really receive that lesson, and I think that journaling is just, It's such a great way to organize that process. Health anxiety can affect anyone regardless of their age, gender, or background. And while it's completely normal to be concerned about your health, excessive worry and fear can become debilitating. Today we'll explore five journaling prompts that can help you identify your triggers, explore your beliefs, and develop healthier coping mechanisms around your health. So grab your journal and let's get started. We'll begin by writing down our fears related to health. Are you worried about getting a serious illness? Are you afraid of dying? Write down all your concerns no matter how irrational or unlikely they may seem. This exercise can help you to identify your triggers and understand why you feel so anxious. So what are you afraid of? What are you afraid of? All right. Once you've identified your fears, take a closer look at the evidence that supports them. Do you have a family history of a certain illness? Have you had any symptoms that worry? You write down any concrete evidence that supports your worries. Then think about the evidence that contradicts or challenges your fears. For example, have you had a recent checkup that showed you're healthy? What other reasons do you have to believe you're okay? So write down the evidence that supports your fears, and then challenge it. Write down the evidence that supports your fears and challenge it. Okay, let's keep it moving. Our beliefs about ourselves are health and the world around us can greatly impact our anxiety. Take some time to reflect on your beliefs about health and illness. Do you believe that your body is fragile and vulnerable? Do you believe that you're destined to get sick? Take note of any negative beliefs and consider alternative perspectives. For example, do you believe that your body is capable of healing itself? Do you believe that you have control over your health choices? So the official prompt is take note of any negative beliefs and consider alternative perspectives. Take note of any negative beliefs and consider alternative perspectives. When faced with health anxiety, it's natural to seek reassurance or try to control the situation. Write down any coping mechanisms that you've used in the past, whether they're healthy or unhealthy. Have you sought out medical tests or frequent checkups? Have you avoided certain activities or places? Have you turned to drugs or alcohol to numb your anxiety? What have you done to cope and how has it helped or hindered your anxiety? What have you done to cope and how has it helped or hindered your anxiety? All right. For our last prompt, let's consider what healthier coping mechanisms could look like for you. What activities or habits could help you reduce anxiety and improve your overall wellbeing? Some ideas include meditation, exercise, spending time in nature, talking to a therapist, or connecting with loved ones. The last prompt of the day is write down any healthier coping mechanisms that resonate with you and make a plan to incorporate them into your daily life. Write down any healthier coping mechanisms that resonate with you and make a plan to incorporate them into your daily life. All right. Nicely done. Health anxiety can be a challenging and overwhelming experience, but journaling can help you to gain perspective and develop healthier coping mechanisms. By reflecting on your fears, beliefs, and coping mechanisms, you can gain a better understanding of your anxiety and find ways to manage it. The five journal prompts that we explore today are a great starting point, but don't be afraid to create your own prompts or adapt these ones to suit your needs. Remember, journaling is a personal and powerful journey, so be gentle with yourself and trust in your own process, whatever that looks like. And that's our show folks. Thank you so much for journaling with us. Hit me up on Twitter and Instagram at journal party, omg. Or even better, join our private Facebook group. I got the link in the show notes and I would love to hear your thoughts and please send in your request for different prompt themes. Also, be sure to check out our mobile guided journaling app that's available on the Apple App Store and Google Play. Just search journal party or check the show notes for the link. There's a bunch of guided journaling programs on there and a growing community of pen to paper journals, and we would just love to have you and I think you'll really enjoy it. And if you enjoy today's show, please leave a review and spread the word so that we can make this an even bigger party next week. And I hope you have a wonderful week this week. Party on.
