All right, I know that many people here, keep a journal...personal, medical and whatever.

I have never kept a journal, personal or otherwise. I have a very good memory for details in my life and don't really want to go over my life, again and again and again, in writing.

I remember all the things I want to remember and am trying hard to forget the rest..

I did start a Diary, when I was a Kid, because all my friends were doing it, but got bored with it pretty fast.

Who else here, does NOT keep a personal journal?

I don't keep a personal journal. The only journal I have just lists medical information (medication, procedures, names and dates) but nothing too indepth. It's just something to keep my medical records straight. I don't write my personal feelings or how my medical problems are impacting my life or anything like that.

I've never been one to do a journal and now that I have so much difficulty with my hands there is no way I could start to do it now. I never even had a diary with I was a kid (at least one I can remember). I do often wonder, am I missing out on something by not journaling.

I love to write, and find writing my thoughts therapeutic. That said, I do NOT keep a journal, per se. I keep a "diary", a few lines that say "Really windy this morning. Carolyn called. Planted tomatoes." That kind of thing.

I am too self-conscious to journal. I feel as though someone is leaning over my shoulder, reading my words (future generations, perhaps?) so I end up sounding fake and stilted, even to myself. Plus, I'm way too conscious of the fact that what I write might hurt someone someday. Or simply come back to bite me. Chomp, chomp.

I don't but wish I had.

I have a sx journal. If I am having a bad day or big sx, I write it out on a calander type thing. it just helps me keep track should I have to report in somwhere.

I have a medical appointment book in my purse, that I write down when I go, where I go, and what happened while I was there. I have a stack of those started.

When I worked in the jail, I had a pocket calender book that i wrote which jail I was in that day, what my post or responsibilites were, and if anything out of the ordinary happened. I have a 22 year stack of those. They were admissable in court should we ever get called. simple notes it worked great.

As I grow more and more accustomed to this silly disease, and more and more comfortable with my routine, my journal is less and less filled. As the fear dies down, the writing goes with it. when the anxiety rises, so do the journal entries.

I never kept a journal or diary as a kid.

Exactly!!!

I dont journal.

I got rid of my diarys a few years ago. I shredded them as I absolutely did not want anyone reading what I wrote in my youth. Now I just keep some information as far as medical stuff.

I found a way of journaling that's really therapeutic : I write 3 pages of just free thinking, no proofing or corrections, just fast free- associating. I don't do it every day, just when dealing with some issue. What always happens is by the time I've written 1 & 1/2 pages, it's been worked out! I swear! Then I generally destroy it because I don't want anyone else reading it or I may keep it in a notebook and hide it for a while, destroying it later. It only works if I'm being totally honest and not worrying about anyone seeing it.

I never used to keep a journal until I became ill. I now keep one and record how bad my pain has been, if I have had any new symtpoms etc but I am always forgetting to write in it lol !!!

My Doctor told me that the journals are useful for him and the other doctors as they can keep up to date with how I have been doing and see if they need to increase any medications etc.

I also keep a Blog (see siggy line if you're interested in reading it) where I write about how I have been doing and what I have been up to. I used to be addicted to it and write in it all the time but find that I never seem to have any time to keep up with it really now lol !

Interesting thread, thanks for starting!