Living with GIST can be stressful. There are many coping mechanisms to deal with chronic disease, but one that you may not have used in the past is one that others coping with stress have found enormously helpful: writing. Be sure to check out an earlier article about the benefits and types of journaling.

Keeping a personal journal or diary records your most intimate thoughts and feelings. One benefit is that the act of writing actually helps to stop the flood of troubled thoughts you may be experiencing, thereby relieving tension.

You don’t have to be a writer to benefit from the act of sharing your thoughts and feelings on  paper. All you need is a pen and some paper. It isn’t necessary to be an excellent speller or storyteller.

Here is a link to an excellent article on the therapeutic value of writing from the Cancer.Net website.