Write It Out

When things go wrong, you might think that focussing on the bad
and writing about them would make things worse. But in some
cases, the opposite seems to be true. Michael Mosley investigates
a technique called “expressive writing”, a simple tip which can
have surprising benefits for your health. The idea is to set
aside 15 minutes to write about any worries that keep you up at
night, showing many benefits - from improving lung function in
people with asthma, to improving scores on exams and cognitive
tests. In this episode, Michael Mosley speaks to the man who
kick-started it all, Professor James Pennebaker from the
University of Texas, Austin. He tells Michael about his original
findings in the 1980s and the astonishing link between expressive
writing, reduced doctor’s visits, your immune system and how
quickly your body heals wounds…