By writing, you move your grief from your internal, private thoughts onto an external medium (the paper). Research pioneered by Dr. James Pennebaker shows that this process helps the brain organize the narrative. This guide shows you how to use your journal effectively because when you write by hand, you are literally changing the way your brain interacts with your trauma. You’re moving from a state of being “stuck” in a cycle of grief to being an active participant in your own recovery.