How Writing Helped Me Heal (and created a new career path) by Pat Rullo
I remember writing my first patient safety book about a year after my mom’s horrifying hospital and healthcare experiences. What started as a few words here and there to chronicle the mayhem soon became a book, the first nationally syndicated patient safety radio program, and hospital speaking and training events. But most importantly, it became a powerful tool for achieving catharsis and healing. It allowed me to express and process my emotions and traumas. The act of organizing the events, along with my thoughts and feelings, had a profound impact on my mental and emotional well-being.
Here are a few ways writing helped me:
Writing provided an outlet for intense emotions, allowing me to release pent-up feelings, such as anger, sadness, and grief. By putting these emotions into words, I expressed myself without reservation. After all, I thought, I could always tear up the paper after a writing session. (I never did)
Writing prompted self-reflection and introspection, enabling me to understand better how the painful experiences affected me. I discovered insights and personal growth as I explored my thoughts through writing. I don’t think some of the AHA moments would have happened in any other way. I might still be looking for them!
Traumatic and difficult experiences can be overwhelming and confusing. Writing provided a structured way to process and make sense of these events, allowing me to create a coherent narrative and find meaning in the difficult experiences. By forcing myself to create a timeline of events, I saw things as they had unfolded rather than a jumble of disconnected occurrences.
Writing allowed me to reclaim my voice, express my truth, and challenge beliefs or internalized notions. I permitted myself to be angry and to feel frustrated. By writing, I regained agency and created a new narrative (my narrative) that helped promote healing and resilience.
Writing encouraged me to confront and process difficult emotions and experiences head-on. By putting words to my pain and struggles, I developed a greater capacity to bounce back from adversity. Writing gave me emotional strength and helped me create a more positive outlook on life. After writing about those four months of healthcare trauma, I felt and feel much better equipped to deal with whatever nonsense comes my way. Writing was my medicine and eventually a cure.
Publishing and sharing my book led to validation and connection with others as I realized I was not alone in my experiences. This inspired me to become a recognized and fierce champion and voice within the patient safety and patient experience world. It helped me see that I could become a change agent and use my experiences to benefit others. Writing was the vehicle that led to a complete career change that altered my life in such a good way.
Overall, writing offered me sanctuary for self-expression and healing. Try writing if you have something in your life or past that still needs some work. It creates a space to acknowledge and work through your emotions and experiences at your own pace, paving the way for catharsis and emotional well-being. Whether through journaling, memoirs, poetry, or storytelling, writing can heal and transform lives.
It transformed mine.
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