Surprising Connection Between Writing Your Life Story and Mental Health

Not surprisingly, the positive benefits of Life Story Work are not limited to depression and anxiety, but apparent across a variety of mental health indicators. Some of the most compelling data has examined the benefits to sufferers of dementia or Alzheimer’s on quality of life factors like happiness and mood (Pittiglio, 2000). Reminiscence, whether in conversation or in writing, has been shown to improve general well-being, ego-integrity, sense purpose in life, cognitive performance, social integration, and death preparation (Pinquart & Forstmeier, 2012). Numerous reasons have been explored in psychiatry and geriatric journals, from the value of finding meaning and coherence in one’s life (Watt & Cappeliez, 1995), the resolution of old conflicts (Butler, 1974), reinforcement of a sense of continuity (Parker, 1999), and the recollection of former successful coping experiences (Wong, 1995). But not all approaches to reminiscence are created equal.

Not all Life Story Work is created equal

While everyone enjoys casual reminiscing with friends, left to our own, storytelling can have detrimental effects. Those who have gossiped around the ‘bridge’ table or nursed old gripes over a dram of Scotch know the power of stoking anger and conflicts from our past. For that reason, clinical practitioners favor structured approaches to Life Story Work. Unlike simple life storytelling, a systematic “Life Review” seeks to process all major life events and turning points, seeking coherence and resolution. That’s not to say grief or anger or conflict are avoided. To the contrary, a Life Review includes both successes and failures, joys, hardships and tragedies. When clinical best practices are followed, the emphasis is not on commiseration, but evaluating the significance of the past, resolving conflict, and understanding the themes of our lives. Whether you’re 65 or 95, researchers have concluded that reviewing our lives with a professional counselor, social worker, or trained Life Storyteller is good for our health (Bohlmeijer, Roemer, Cuijpers & Smit, 2007).

Long-term care providers are taking note

Today, as reminiscence has become mainstream therapeutic practice, retirement and nursing care providers are recognizing the potential of forms of Life Storytelling for improving their quality of care (McKeown, Clarke & Repper, 2006). Increasingly, as practitioners discover the value of understanding patient’s attitudes and perspectives, Life Story Work is gaining recognition as an essential for “person-centered care” (Wills & Day, 2008) Though conversational approaches yield some benefit, numerous researchers have highlighted the value of Life Story Books in their work. An “LSB”, or personal history, or memoir as they are variously described, can solidify a sense of personal identity in old age, giving long-term care practitioners a more holistic view of residents by understanding their unique personal and family history (Hewitt, 2013). The result is more personalized assessment of patients (Anderson, Hobson & Steiner, 1992) and greater possibilities for individualized care (Hansebo & Kihlgren, 2000). Though the Covid pandemic continues to keep us separated and sequestered, Life Story Work need not be limited by quarantine protocols. Thanks to everyone’s growing familiarity with video-conference technology, Life Storytellers are able to offer virtual services to more people than ever before. As a publisher of Life Story Book and memoirs, we have had the privilege of helping dozens of clients begin a Life Story project during the Covid Pandemic. We have helped others give a Life Story Book gift for parents or grandparents. In many ways, the limited social options and quarantines make this the perfect time to gather photos and memorabilia, family biography and personal memoirs, ancestry and genealogical research, as a gift for future generations. Our aging loved ones may be enduring the loneliness of increased physical isolation, but their memories, perspectives, and insights need not be kept to themselves.