Opening Up: The Healing Power of Expressing Emotions

Anyone who has ever entrusted a troubling secret to a journal, or mourned a broken heart with a friend, knows the feeling of relief that expressing painful emotions can bring. This book presents astonishing evidence that personal self-disclosure is not only good for our emotional health, but boosts our physical health as well.

Psychologist James W. Pennebaker has conducted controlled clinical research that sheds new light on the powerful mind body connection. This book interweaves his findings with insightful case studies on secret-keeping, confession, and the hidden price of silence. Filled with information and encouragement, Opening Up explains:

xWhy suppressing inner problems takes a devastating toll on health
xHow long-buried trauma affects the immune system
xHow writing about your problems can improve your health
xWhy it's never too late to heal old emotional wounds
xWhen self-disclosure may be risky--and how to know whom to trust

Anyone who has ever entrusted a troubling secret to a journal, or mourned a broken heart with a friend, knows the feeling of relief that expressing painful emotions can bring. This book presents astonishing evidence that personal self-disclosure is not only good for our emotional health, but boosts our physical health as well.

Psychologist James W. Pennebaker has conducted controlled clinical research that sheds new light on the powerful mind body connection. This book interweaves his findings with insightful case studies on secret-keeping, confession, and the hidden price of silence. Filled with information and encouragement, Opening Up explains:

*Why suppressing inner problems takes a devastating toll on health

*How long-buried trauma affects the immune system

*How writing about your problems can improve your health

*Why it's never too late to heal old emotional wounds

*When self-disclosure may be risky--and how to know whom to trust

James W. Pennebaker, PhD, is Professor of Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. His research on stress, emotion, and health has been funded by the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health, and has resulted in the publication of over 100 articles and 7 books.

Since receiving his doctoral degree in 1977, Pennebaker has taught at the University of Virginia and Southern Methodist University. His recent honors include an Honorary Doctorate degree from the University of Louvain (Belgium), the Pavlov Award, and the Hilgard Visiting Professorship at Stanford University. He lives in Austin with his wife, Ruth (a writer), and two children.

Contents

Preface

1. Confession and Inhibition: The Beginnings of an Approach

2. Inhibition as a Health Threat

3. Becoming Healthier Through Writing

4. Confession in the Laboratory

5. The Battle to Inhibit Our Thoughts

6. On Speeding Up Coping

7. Understanding the Value of Writing

8. The Social Price of Disclosure: Whom to Tell and How to Listen

9. Love, Passion, and Thrills

10. The Inhibited Personality

11. Inhibited Cities

12. Confession in Context: Therapy, Religion, and Brainwashing

13. Beyond Traumas: Writing and Well-Being