Why Writing Through Your Emotions Is One of the Most Underrated Tools for Healing
- Brainz Magazine
- Jul 16
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 13
Dr. DeShaun Williams is the Founder & Chief Writing Coach at Write Your Way, LLC, specializing in empowering authors through writing coaching and book publishing. He is also a multi-bestselling author.
We talk a lot about healing as a process of doing: go to therapy, exercise, eat better, set boundaries, keep pushing. But what happens when you’ve done all of that and still feel emotionally full, stuck, or like you’re silently unraveling beneath the surface? What happens when healing requires less movement and more stillness?
That’s where writing enters the conversation, not as a replacement for professional help, but as a deeply personal and accessible way to explore your truth. Writing is often viewed as a creative expression, but when used with intention, it becomes an emotional lifeline. It offers space to release what the body has stored and what the mind has never been allowed to say.
Many of us were raised in environments where emotional silence was taught as strength. We were conditioned to suppress, to smile when we were breaking, to carry burdens quietly, and to make sure no one ever saw the cracks. Over time, that silence takes a toll; it turns into anxiety, burnout, depression, and emotional fatigue. And because we never learned how to process our feelings in real time, we learned how to bury them instead.
Writing helps unbury what’s been locked away. The act of journaling doesn’t just get the thoughts out; it helps organize them, clarify them, and reduce their intensity. When you write, especially without judgment, you give yourself space to feel honestly. You slow down the spiraling thoughts and begin to make sense of them. That process, both neurologically and emotionally, allows you to shift from survival mode into deeper self-awareness.
Research shows that expressive writing activates areas of the brain responsible for logic, reasoning, and emotional regulation. This cognitive shift helps calm the nervous system and restore a sense of internal control. For people navigating depression, anxiety, or unresolved emotional pain, that small act of writing can become more than reflection; it becomes release. Naming what you’re carrying can be the first step toward not having to carry it alone.
What makes writing especially powerful is that it doesn’t require an audience. You don’t have to explain yourself, protect anyone else’s feelings, or water down your truth. You’re allowed to be messy. You’re allowed to be honest. You’re allowed to just feel. In a world that often tells you to move on or stay strong, journaling gives you permission to simply be where you are.
Writing may not fix everything, but it can soften what hurts. It can help you recognize the patterns in your thoughts, give voice to what’s been hidden, and remind you that your emotions are not a weakness, they’re evidence that you’re still here, still feeling, still trying.
You don’t need to write perfectly. You just need to write honestly. And that, in itself, is a powerful form of healing.
Read more from DeShaun Williams
Dr. DeShaun Williams, President & Mental Health Facilitator & Expert
Dr. DeShaun Williams is the Founder & Chief Writing Coach at Write Your Way, LLC, dedicated to helping aspiring authors achieve their publishing goals through personalized coaching and guidance. Inspired by the wisdom of his late grandfather, DeShaun founded his business to empower writers to take control of their creative journeys. He is also the author of From the Valley to the Summit, where he shares insights on overcoming obstacles and reaching new heights. DeShaun’s passion is helping others realize their potential and bring their stories to life.
