Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
You know how it is
that feeling, maybe your chest
tightens, thoughts just racing,whether it's like a constant
background hum of stress orthose bigger waves of worry,
anxiety, well, it touches somany of us.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
It really does.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
And today we're going
to dive deep into something
surprisingly simple but reallypowerful that can help you
navigate that journaling.
That's right, really powerfulthat can help you navigate that
journaling.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
That's right.
We've been looking into how youknow, putting pen to paper can
actually be a really effectiveway for you to manage anxiety,
maybe improve your emotionalwell-being, and we're
particularly digging into theapproach Lestallion takes with
their notebooks the onesdesigned specifically for
calming anxiety, and it'sfascinating, isn't it?
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Because, I mean, on
the surface, journaling seems so
basic, just writing stuff down,right.
But, as we'll get into, there'sactually some solid science
behind why it works for anxietyand, interestingly, how a
journal itself is designed canmaybe boost those benefits for
you.
Yeah definitely Okay.
So let's unpack this.
Let's see what makes it tick.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Well, what's really
interesting, especially if you
think about your own anxiety, ishow journaling actually
interacts with your brain.
It's not just venting, you know.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Right, not just
getting it off your chest.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
Exactly.
Studies have genuinely shownthat expressive writing that's
the term they use can lead to areal, measurable reduction in
anxiety and stress.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
OK.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
When you take those
worries that are just swirling
around in your head, youactually write them down.
You're processing themdifferently.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
How so.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Well, it sort of
loosens their psychological grip
on you.
It's like taking those vaguefears and giving them a shape,
something concrete you canactually look at.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
That makes so much
sense, like taking all that
internal noise and laying it out, objectifying it almost.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Precisely, you
externalize it and that simple
act seems to shift how youexperience those feelings
internally.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
Right.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
And while you're
doing this, while you're writing
, you're also engaging yourprefrontal cortex.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
Ah, okay, we've
talked about that before,
haven't we?
The part for emotionalregulation?
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Exactly Emotional
regulation, decision making it's
key.
So by translating thosefeelings into words on paper,
you're actively strengtheningyour brain's ability to manage
them better.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
So you're bringing
the sort of rational brain into
the picture.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
You got it.
It's an active process, notjust passive release.
You're actively working withthe part of your brain that
helps you regain composure, feelmore in control.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
Okay, wow.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
And the shift.
It's not just cognitive.
It links directly to how yourbody physically experiences
anxiety.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
You mean like the
racing heart, the shallow
breathing.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Those exact things.
Expressing those bottled upemotions on paper can genuinely
help lessen some of thosephysical symptoms you might feel
.
It's all connected, mind andbody.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
It really underscores
that connection and, thinking
about that, it seems Lestallionreally considered this with
their anxiety journals.
Yeah, you mentioned the paperquality, that 120 GSM thick
paper.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Yeah, the premium
paper.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
The soft faux leather
cover.
It feels like they'reintentionally creating an object
that feels calming, thatinvites you to actually do the
journaling.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
I think so.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
I remember my sister.
She deals with anxiety and shesaid sometimes just the feel of
her journal is grounding for her.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
That's a perfect
example.
The tactile experience matters.
A well-made journal, one thatfeels good, has nice paper.
It makes the whole act moreappealing, right, something you
actually look forward to.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Which helps with
consistency, I guess.
Exactly and consistency iscrucial for getting those
long-term benefits we'll talkabout.
Okay, so another thing thatreally jumped out was this idea
of the journal as a safe space,like a totally private zone for
your real thoughts.
No judgment, because sometimestalking to someone else just
feels too hard, too vulnerable,maybe.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
That's such an
important point for managing
anxiety.
When you feel really vulnerableor overwhelmed, sharing those
raw feelings, it can seemimpossible.
Yeah, a journal just bypassesthat completely.
It's this confidential outlet.
You can write anything, nomatter how messy or, you know,
irrational.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
it might seem right
then and there's real power just
in acknowledging it, isn'tthere?
Just letting the feeling existon the page without trying to
fix it immediately?
Definitely reminds me of afriend.
Stressful time at work startedjournaling, said just getting
those swirling thoughts out wasa huge relief, even before he
tried making sense of themabsolutely that simple.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
That simple act
acknowledging processing.
It's key for reducing thatinternal tension If you try to
just push feelings down.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
They don't go away.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
No, they often pop up
somewhere else, maybe adding to
that background anxiety you'retrying to manage.
Journaling is a healthy release, like opening a valve gently.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
Good analogy.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
And, over time, doing
this regularly, it can lead you
to understand your triggersbetter.
Yeah, the underlying causes.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Precisely.
You start seeing patterns.
By reflecting regularly in yourjournal, you notice recurring
themes, maybe certain situations, even times of day that tend to
spark anxiety for you.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
That awareness.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
That increased
emotional awareness is
fundamental for long-termmanagement.
Once you understand the whybehind your anxiety better,
you're in a much strongerposition to figure out how to
cope with it effectively.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
And again it seems
Lestallion thought about this
those features like numberedpages, the table of contents.
They seem basic maybe, but fortracking emotional patterns,
over time they suddenly becomereally valuable tools for you.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
They really do.
Being able to easily flip back,see how you felt in a similar
spot weeks or months ago, thatgives you invaluable perspective
.
It lets you track your progress, spot recurring triggers and
actually see how far you've come.
It's like a personal archive ofyour emotional growth.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
A personal history of
your emotional growth, a
personal history of youremotional landscape right there,
okay.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
So let's talk about
Sarah's story.
I found her experience reallyhelpful in seeing how this works
day to day.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
Yeah, sarah's story
is a great illustration.
Here's someone juggling work,family, experiencing that
constant negative thought spiral, feeling overwhelmed.
And the physical stuff tootight shoulders, the racing
heart things so many peoplelistening can probably relate to
exactly, and for sarah thejournal was like her first step.
Initially it was just aboutgetting those jumbled,
(06:12):
overwhelming thoughts out ontothe page, that immediate release
like dropping a heavy bag justa brain dump, basically pretty
much, and sometimes that alonebrings immediate relief.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
Right A bit of
lightness?
Speaker 1 (06:23):
Yeah, definitely.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
But the key thing
with Sarah is it wasn't just a
one off fix.
Over time, journaling becameher reliable tool, her go to for
navigating stressful momentswhen anxiety spiked.
And as she kept doing it shestarted gaining that clarity.
We talked about understandingher specific triggers, the
(06:46):
sources of her anxiety.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
And that
self-awareness, like we said,
it's so empowering for you.
It shifts things from justreacting to proactively
understanding and addressing theroots.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Absolutely.
And through that consistentprocess, sarah started
developing healthier copingmechanisms.
Her journal wasn't justrecording anxiety.
It became a space to exploresolutions, reflect on what
helped before and choosedifferent responses.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
And the big takeaway
from her story seems to be
consistency right.
Not a quick fix, but a reliabletool that, with regular use,
helped her gradually feel morein control of her thoughts and
emotions, rather than beingcontrolled by them.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Exactly over thoughts
and emotions, rather than being
controlled by them.
Exactly, it's that shift fromfeeling swept away by anxiety to
actively engaging with it whichempowers you to navigate it
better.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
So okay, for
listeners who are new to this,
maybe thinking about usingjournaling for anxiety, what are
some practical first steps?
How can you get started?
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Great question.
The main thing is make itapproachable.
Don't let it feel like anotherchore.
So start small.
That's absolutely key for you.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
Like how small.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Even five or ten
minutes.
Seriously, you don't need hours.
Maybe just focus on one eventfrom the day or one feeling you
want to explore.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
And what if you just
stare at the blank page Like
writer's blog for your feelings?
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Huh, yeah, that
happens.
You just stare at the blankpage like writer's blog for your
feelings.
Huh, yeah, that happens.
Prompts can be super helpful.
Then they give you a startingpoint.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
Like, what kind of
prompts?
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Simple things, what
specifically made me feel
anxious today, or even what'sone thing I'm genuinely grateful
for right now, just somethingto focus your thoughts.
It doesn't need to be deepphilosophy, just an honest
reflection.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
And the advice about
writing without judgment seems
crucial for you.
It's not about perfect writing,right?
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Not at all.
Zero judgment, no right orwrong way for you to do it.
Forget grammar spelling logic.
The goal is emotional releaseand self-exploration for you.
Think of it like a private chatwith yourself.
Those aren't always neat andtidy aren't always neat and tidy
.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
Okay, good point, and
we touched on this, but
tracking progress seems valuablefor you long term, which ties
back to those numbered pages andtable of contents again.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
Yes, exactly Making
notes when anxiety felt intense,
what might have triggered it,how you responded.
You start building thisincredibly valuable record for
yourself.
Over time, this helps you spotpatterns, triggers you might not
even be aware of consciously.
That's vital for you inmanaging anxiety better down the
road.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
And finally, like any
good habit, making it a routine
seems important for you to getthe full benefits.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
Absolutely.
Find a time that works, maybefirst thing in the morning to
set intentions, or evening toprocess the day.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
Whatever fits your
rhythm, make it regular, even a
few minutes consistently isbetter than long sessions once
in a while.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
Often it regular.
Even a few minutes consistentlyis better than long sessions
once in a while.
Often, yes, Consistency buildsmomentum and thinking about
those listallion journals again,the smooth paper, the sturdy
feel, those things actuallyencourage you to use it
consistently.
It makes it a more appealing,reliable tool for you.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
It's like they
considered the whole experience
for you, not just the writingpart.
The cover, feel, paper quality.
Those details help create abetter environment for
reflection, maybe a calmer one.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
Exactly those tactile
bits are surprisingly important
for you.
A journal that feels nice makesthe practice more enjoyable,
something you're more likely tostick with.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
Right.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
And features like the
table of contents.
They're not just neatness, theylet you map your own mental
wellness journey.
Revisiting past thoughts givesyou powerful perspective on your
growth.
Speaker 1 (10:10):
And even the back
pocket, maybe for you to keep
little notes or reminders.
It's like they're thinking ofall the small ways to support
you.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
Precisely.
It's about creating a wholetool that supports the process
of reflection and emotionalgrowth for you, not just the
writing itself and the numberedpages, the line spacing.
It gives structure withoutbeing rigid, good for focused
thoughts and free-flowing onesas you explore your anxiety.
It really does seem designedwith your mental wellness as the
goal.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
So, beyond the
immediate relief, journaling can
offer you the materials alsostress the long-term benefits.
It's not just feeling betternow, but building something
lasting for your well-being.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
That's spot on.
Think of it as you activelybuilding emotional resilience.
Over time, by consistentlyengaging with your thoughts and
feelings, you get betterequipped for future challenges.
How so.
Well, you learn to spot yourtriggers faster, you develop
coping mechanisms that actuallywork for you and you cultivate a
stronger sense ofself-awareness, feeling more
grounded.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
It's like you're
building a personal toolkit of
insights and strategies you canpull out when you need them.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
Exactly that, and by
regularly tracking your progress
, reflecting on the journey inyour journal, you gain more
mental clarity, more emotionalstability for yourself.
You see patterns, not just intriggers but in your responses
and, crucially, what helps youfeel better.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
And again those
listallion features, numbered
pages, plenty of space, thetable of contents.
They seem tailor-made tosupport that long-term tracking
and reflection for you.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
They really do.
Imagine looking back and seeinghow you handled a stressful
situation six months ago, maybeseeing how a worry has eased
over time, that tangible proofof your growth, your ability to
manage hard emotions.
That can be incrediblyempowering for you.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
It's like having a
concrete record of your own
resilience.
You can look at when you need areminder of how far you've come
.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
Now, something else
mentioned was the connection
between mindfulness andjournaling.
Interesting how they cancomplement each other for you.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
Absolutely.
Journaling itself can be quitea mindful practice for you.
Actually, when you focus onwriting, you're bringing
awareness to the present and byprocessing those thoughts on
paper you can clear mental space, making it easier to achieve
that grounding mindfulness aimsfor.
It's like clearing internalclutter that distracts you from
being present.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
So, while meditation
helps you be present, journaling
helps you clear out the stuffclouding that presence for you.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
Exactly Actively
clearing the mental clutter, and
when you combine them maybemindful breathing than
journaling, or journaling thanmeditating they can really boost
each other's benefits for youBetter emotional regulation,
fewer anxiety symptoms.
The act of writing in yourjournal becomes this intentional
moment for you to focus on yourcurrent state, release tension
(12:50):
and cultivate calm and clarity.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
So wrapping this up
for you listening.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
It really sounds like
journaling isn't just, you know
, a nice hobby.
It's a powerful, scientificallybacked tool for improving your
mental well-being, specificallyfor managing anxiety day to day.
And it seems a thoughtfullydesigned journal, like the
Lestallion ones we discussed,with that focus on quality and
features that help withorganization, reflection and
(13:16):
consistency.
Well, that can really enhancethe whole process for you,
making it an even better toolfor finding calm and building
resilience.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
That's a perfect
summary for you.
It's about recognizing thatanxiety is common.
Resilience that's a perfectsummary for you.
It's about recognizing thatanxiety is common, but taking
proactive, consistent steps,even something seemingly simple
like journaling can genuinelymake a big positive difference
in your life.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
So here's a final
thought for you to mull over
today Consider how dedicatingjust a few minutes each day
capturing your thoughts andfeelings in a journal could
create this tangible record ofyour own resilience, your growth
.
It could offer you not justimmediate relief, but also this
powerful, evolving perspectiveon your own strength over time.
What profound insights mightyou discover about yourself by
consistently, intentionallyexploring the landscape of your
(14:02):
inner world on paper?