Mental Illness Journal Prompts

This swap is for those of us living with mental illness. Pull up a chair and pour yourself some tea, because it's time to do some self-reflection!

I have compiled 30 mental illness-related journaling prompts from a few sources. You will be picking 10 and writing thoughtful, multiple-sentence (or maybe even multiple paragraph, depending on the question!) answers. You do not have to answer them in any kind of order, but please write out the full question before your response.

You may write by hand or type. While a journal may seem like the obvious choice to write in, this swap is international -- please be prepared to pay shipping if you opt not to send flat mail. Please also be mindful of having correct postage if you exceed an ounce. You do not need to decorate the pages or envelope, and you do not need to include any extras. To be clear -- you can write or type these out like you're writing a letter, you can write them in a journal as long as you're ok paying to send it, you can even bind your pages together to make a journal that can be mailed flat -- but it's your preference, and the medium is not the important part of the swap.

Please do not include any potentially triggering content. In this context, "triggering" means: descriptions of self-harm, details of sui attempts or ideation, graphic descriptions of abuse/trauma, numbers related to eating disorders, details of substance abuse, and anything else that glorifies or encourages self-destructive or dangerous behavior.

Please take your time and try to get something out of what you write! You will have six weeks to complete, so that is one question every 4 days or so if you space them out -- though you can write at any rate you want.

Please rate your partner promptly and fairly. In the interest of people feeling safe actually being honest in response to these questions, please don't mention anything specific in ratings. If you want to respond to something personal, please send a message or write a letter back.

Ok, that's it! Waaaooo!

WRITING PROMPTS

1. Reflect on a recent positive experience and describe how it made you feel and why it was significant to you.

2. Describe three ways you can prioritize self-care today and how each activity will contribute to your well-being.

3. Explore a challenging emotion you are currently experiencing. Describe it in detail, including its physical sensations and any associated thoughts or triggers.

4. Reflect on a recent emotional experience and consider what it has taught you about yourself or your relationships.

5. Describe a moment of mindfulness or presence you experienced today. What did you observe, and how did it make you feel?

6. Reflect on your short-term and long-term goals. Are they aligned with your values and passions? If not, what adjustments could you make?

7. Explore a recent challenge or setback you faced. What did you learn from it, and how can you apply those lessons to future situations?

8. Write about a personal quality or habit you would like to cultivate or improve. Identify small steps you can take to work towards it.

9. Describe a challenging situation you have overcome in the past. How did you cope with it, and what strengths or resources did you rely on?

10. Explore one new coping strategy or self-care practice you would like to try. How do you envision it benefiting your mental well-being?

11. Reflect on your core values and beliefs. Are you living in alignment with them? If not, what adjustments or choices could help you honor them more fully?

12. Write about a hobby or activity that brings you joy and why it is important to your overall well-being.

13. Describe a self-care ritual or practice that helps you recharge and nurture your mental health.

14. Write a letter to your future self, expressing your hopes, dreams, and intentions.

15. Reflect on a time when you overcame self-doubt or fear and how it transformed your outlook.

16. Describe the qualities or strengths that you admire in yourself and how they contribute to your well-being.

17. Describe a situation that brings you anxiety or stress and brainstorm coping strategies to manage it.

18. Write about a time when you took care of yourself during a challenging period and the positive impact it had on your well-being.

19. Explore a limiting belief you hold about yourself and challenge it with evidence and alternative perspectives.

20. If you could explain to someone what it feels like to live with mental illness, what would you say?

21. Write down something you have learned about the history of mental illness and stigma. Does it seem like there are still echoes of this specific belief today? Has it evolved over time? I encourage you to research online and come back to this prompt.

22. Read the following quote, and express your interpretation of it and how it relates to your life with mental illness. "When you live with a mental illness you spend most of your time “trying to explain” over taking care of yourself."

23. What does self-love mean to you?

24. What is making you feel anxious right now and why?

25. If you could tell a psychiatrist and psychologist how you want to be treated and what you want from them, what would you say?

26. Someone, who lives without a mental illness, asks you, “How can I be supportive to my friend with mental illness?” Write down your response

27. Read the following quote, and express your interpretation of it and how it relates to your life with mental illness. "The mental health problem is not just a health crisis, it’s a social injustice. It’s the mistreatment of the misunderstood."

28. How has stigma affected your life?

29. If you could make change in the mental health care system, what would it be?

30. What are some of your major long-term goals? What obstacles are preventing you from achieving them? Take the most immediate obstacle and brainstorm 3 small, material steps you can take to work towards overcoming that barrier right now, even if they don't eliminate it entirely.

Prompts adapted from: Port St Lucie Hospital | Charlie Health | Blooming Mind Press

Minimum rating 4.95. No recent or unexplained 1's or 3's. Newbies with 5 rated type 2 or 3 swaps in the past 3 months are welcome. I will angel after you attempt to resolve with your partner and rate a 1, but please do communicate with them and see what's up.

Message me directly with any questions. Happy swapping!