James W. Pennebaker, Chair of the Psychology Department at the University of Texas at Austin, explored the links among traumatic experiences, expressive writing, and physical and mental health. Research results have shown decreased levels of stress, pain, and depression and strengthened immune systems. In writing about stressful events, patients may experience fewer symptoms and disability.

Laura King, Ph.D., Professor of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, suggests that people who write about their most positive experiences (the positive aspects of traumatic experience, their best future selves) merit the same physical benefits as writing about negative emotional experiences. This may be a way for individuals not ready to delve into negative feelings to still benefit from writing. For further information, refer to Burton, C. M. & King, L. A. (2004) “Health benefits of writing about intensely positive experiences.” [1] 2004. Journal of Research in Personality, 38, 150-

My interest in narrative medicine began in 2005 when I wrote a paper for a creative writing class on the topic. My curiosity surfaced again in May 2009 when asked to present a one-hour talk on narrative medicine to a graduate level writing class at Denver University. In June 2009 and 2010, I attended narrative medicine workshops at Columbia University. Already familiar with the work of Dr. Rita Charon, it was a pleasure to initially meet her and have the opportunity to interact with her and her colleagues in the classroom on these informed occasions.

The field of narrative medicine is increasingly becoming a part of medical school and nursing training and health-care practice across the country. Having a patient write their story of illness and/or having a health care professional write prose or poetry about his or her own visceral response to a patient’s echocardiogram. a patient’s experience with AIDs, or what its like for the doctor to wait in the waiting room, has been shown to have powerful effectiveness in helping patients
and their doctors forge healing partnerships.

Currently, there is an abundance of published accounts of the lived experience of illness, the provider, patient, and caregiver narrative. Personal stories can be found online, in a journal or published book (fiction, nonfiction, poetry, comic). Expression of an illness experience through photography, art,theater and film is also plentiful.

Through narrative, patients (including health care professionals), caregivers and families of the sick are reflecting and giving expression, coherence and meaning to their experiences. In layers, the insides of their experiences are told rather than an analytic account of the disease process and its treatment. In the process, patients convey their own words, new perceptions of body and self may be identified and patients voices are being restored and strengthened. How one thinks about their experience, consciousness and behavior may change through the process of translation. The act of expression –writing, creating or performing–may help patients celebrate the lives they’ve lived.