The object of journaling is to bring them to the front so you can analyse these thoughts and see which are negative and need work, so if you have a lot of negative ones they are going to take you from anxiety (over analysing) to panic. I like your way of dealing with them. In the case of journaling during a panic attack it is to bring the situation to the front where you can realize it is distorted or down right wrong and give your flight or fight system a reason to shut down which it did not have during the confusion of the panic attack. Two different reasons for journaling with two different ways of treating it and two different effects.
Good example of having coping skills in place before exposure. (exposing your self to unwanted or negative thought by journaling) A question though, is journaling getting easier?
I would add that if journaling can trigger anxiety or attacks, then one should have a plan for how to deal with that. For example, when journaling was bringing many anxieties to the surface, I would schedule to do it before an appointment with my counselor - that way I could address the anxiety with a helper and not alone.
For a long time I was confused because I would journal (thinking it is always a good thing to do) and then would experience an attack and wouldn't have a plan for what to do about that. It took a while to even realize that the journaling was related to how I ended up feeling the rest of the day (negative thoughts journaled = rough day).
Now when I journal I am cognizant of when I am veering into negative analysis and then I stop. I either switch topics or switch activities.
I hope that helps others who find journaling useful, which I do.
Did you know
Journaling your daily anxiety, triggers and mood helps to reveal problem areas (such as stresses and emotions that may lead to a panic attack) and is the first step towards improving behaviour.
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