'Just as being
unaware of one's feelings can lead to illness, knowing and attending to
them can have a positive impact on health. In one study, Holocaust
survivors spoke for one to two hours about their experiences during
World War II. The investigators then measured the extent to which they
had talked emotionally about traumatic events (Pennebaker, Barger, &
Tiebout, 1989). The more emotion they expressd as they recounted the
events, the better their health for over a year later. In another study,
patients with painful arthritis spoke into a tape recorder for 15
minutes a day about either stressful or trivial events (Kelley, Lumley,
& Leisen, 1997). Those who spoke about stressful events were
in better emotional and physical shape three months later, and, the
more unpleasant emotion they experienced while discussing stressful
events, the less painful their joints were three months later. The moral
of the story? No pain, no gain.
Researchers have been tracking down some of the precise mechanisms through which emotional disclosure affects health (Pennebaker, 1997a, 1997b; Pennebaker & Seagal, 1999). Writing about stressful or unpleasant events has been shown to increase the functioning of specific cells in the immune system (the system of cells in the body that fights off disease). Disclosure also decreases autonomic reactivity that keeps the body on red alert and takes its toll over time.
Perhaps most importantly, disclosure permits a change in cognitive functioning that allows the person to rework the traumatic experience in thought and memory. People who benefit from disclosure tend to begin with disorganised, disjointed narratives about the event, suggesting emotional disruption of their thinking. After writing, their narratives become more coherent. The more complex and coherent people's narratives after disclosing traumatic events, the more their health improves (Suedfeld & Pennebaker, 1997).'
p. 398
Drew Westen, Lorelle Burton, Robin Kowalski 2006
Psychology
Wiley, Australia
Researchers have been tracking down some of the precise mechanisms through which emotional disclosure affects health (Pennebaker, 1997a, 1997b; Pennebaker & Seagal, 1999). Writing about stressful or unpleasant events has been shown to increase the functioning of specific cells in the immune system (the system of cells in the body that fights off disease). Disclosure also decreases autonomic reactivity that keeps the body on red alert and takes its toll over time.
Perhaps most importantly, disclosure permits a change in cognitive functioning that allows the person to rework the traumatic experience in thought and memory. People who benefit from disclosure tend to begin with disorganised, disjointed narratives about the event, suggesting emotional disruption of their thinking. After writing, their narratives become more coherent. The more complex and coherent people's narratives after disclosing traumatic events, the more their health improves (Suedfeld & Pennebaker, 1997).'
p. 398
Drew Westen, Lorelle Burton, Robin Kowalski 2006
Psychology
Wiley, Australia
