Scientists (and writers) have long known about the therapeutic benefits of writing about personal experiences, thoughts and feelings. But besides serving as a stress-coping mechanism, expressive writing produces many physiological benefits….Scientists now hope to explore the neurological underpinnings at play, especially considering the explosion of blogs.
A recent article in Scientific American notes: Blogging–It’s good for you. The article further reports that:
Some hospitals have started hosting patient-authored blogs on their Web sites as clinicians begin to recognize the therapeutic value. Unlike a bedside journal, blogging offers the added benefit of receptive readers in similar situations, Morgan explains: “Individuals are connecting to one another and witnessing each other’s expressions—the basis for forming a community.”
I’m off on vacation next week, and sharing MHSLA Blog’s mental health benefits: Heidi Schroeder, Health Sciences Librarian at Michigan State University Libraries will be filling in. Welcome, Heidi!
Sandy Swanson
Filed under: Health Sciences Libraries, MHSLA, Web 2.0 tools | Tagged: blogging, mental health, stress
