Journal Prompts for Depression— Traumatic events can leave a lasting impact on our lives. Those who experience a severe car accident may be forced to deal with physical injuries as well as emotional and mental trauma. Someone who unexpectedly loses a loved one will be maneuvering their way through all of the stages of grief for months ahead.

It’s important to recognize that depression can occur in anyone and that it’s more than just an emotional state. Depression is a clinical disorder that requires treatment from a qualified medical professional.
If you are feeling stressed or depressed, and you are beginning to feel that it’s unmanageable, it may be time to contact your physician or licensed therapist. You may find that keeping a journal will help supplement any treatment you are receiving at this time.
If you are starting to journal to manage your feelings of sadness and despondency, use these journal prompts for depression.
Writing Worksheets for Depression Printables
30 Journal Prompts for Depression
- Think about the most difficult thing in your life up until this point, and write about how you overcame that challenging time.
- Write down the feelings that you feel when you are experiencing a depressive episode in list format.
- Describe three things in your life that you are grateful for today, despite feeling sad or anxious.
- When do you feel a sense of peace? Describe where you are, how you are feeling, what you are eating or any activities that you are doing at the time. Consider how you can incorporate those peaceful moments into your life more often.
- Write about what motivates you to keep going, even when you feel like it’s incredibly hard to move forward.
- Depression is considered a mental health disorder, but it can have physical side effects. Describe how depression makes you feel physically, and write about how you can conquer those physical symptoms.
- Reflect on a moment that happened in the last week in which you laughed. What made the moment so funny? How did you feel when you were laughing?
- What is one thing that always makes you feel better? Is this a healthy way of coping with your feelings? Can you identify any other techniques, tools or resources that can help lift you up after a bad day?
- Identify three ways you could change your daily routine to help foster a better sense of peace and relaxation.
- Keep an activity log for 24 hours. Look for patterns in your activity, and how those patterns may relate to the way that you feel. You may be able to uncover ways to reduce depression and anxiety by changing your activities, such as limiting screen time or increasing your active minutes each day.
- What are you afraid of? Why are you afraid? Can you think of any ways you can overcome those fears?
- Where is your happy place? Describe it in detail and using all of your senses. How often can you visit this space?
- Create a list of the next five destinations you want to visit when traveling. Design a realistic plan for how you can visit all of those places in the next several months or years.
- Begin writing about your day in a stream-of-consciousness style. Describe what you did, and how you felt while doing it. You may find that this style of freeform writing helps you to better understand your emotions and how they relate to your daily activities.
- If you know what triggers your stress, anxiety or depression, write those triggers down. Evaluate how you can minimize your contact with those triggers.
- Describe how you want your friends and loved ones to remember you. Are you living your daily life in a way that will honor your memory?
- If you could do anything at all right now, what would you choose to do? Why would you choose to do that?
- Write about your deepest secrets. Why have you kept these things hidden from everyone, including the people who love you the most? Would sharing these secrets relieve you of some of your burdens?
- How would you describe your patience? What do you think causes you to lose your patience? What helps you increase your patience with those who surround you?
- When do you believe that you began to feel depressed? Why did that moment in your life trigger your depression? Consider if now is the right time to contact a professional who can help.
- Think about the last 24-48 hours. Did anyone pay you a compliment? What did they say to you? How did that compliment make you feel?
- What do you love most about yourself? Make a list of 10 qualities about yourself that you are proud of.
- Write the lyrics of a song that you most relate to right now. Why do you identify with those lyrics?
- Describe your best friend. How did you meet that person? Do you see them frequently? What types of things do you like to do with your best friend? How do you feel when you are with them? How do you stay connected?
- Write a journal entry in your favorite color. Describe why you like that color and how it makes you feel.
- Think about the last time you smiled. What made you smile? List at least 5 other things that always make you smile, no matter what.
- Draft a letter of forgiveness to yourself.
- What values did your parents or caregivers instill in you throughout your childhood? Do you still live your life by those values?
- When you are in need of support, who do you go to? Describe the people who support you the most in your daily life.
- Make a list of your daily highs and lows.
Writing about your feelings and identifying why you may feel that way can be a helpful way to combat your depression. Remember that these journal prompts for depression can help, but you also should reach out to a qualified health care professional if you feel you cannot manage your depression on your own.
Until next time, write on…
Links & Resources
- How to Journal for Therapy
- Writing Prompts Anyone Can Use (and the Situations When You Should Use Them!)
- How to Manage Depression by Writing in a Journal – WebMD
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Sincerely,
Journal Buddies Jill
journalbuddies.com
creator and curator
