The Daily O’Collegian

On a day unburdened with the usual routine of classes, homework and other aspects of college life, a car makes its way north on Interstate 45 out of the bustling city limits of Houston.

With nothing but the isolated, rustic scenery on either side of the highway and the soulful lyrics of a Mos Def CD pouring through the car speakers, a driver is lost in thought during his eight-hour drive back to OSU.

With both hands securely on the wheel and nothing but open road in front of him, Patrick Morrison thought about his parents.

They went through a divorce and he couldn’t help but think about how things had changed, how it made him feel and how he was glad there were only a few hours left to go before he could write all of his thoughts down.

Morrison, like many people, uses writing as a way to cope with stress, problems and other occurrences of everyday life.

During such an important transitional period such as the college years, many students look to various creative outlets to help them sort through their emotions and work through problems.

“Writing is a way for me to vent,” Morrison said. “When I look over it later, it’s like I’m getting an outsider’s perspective and it’s almost like therapy.”

In fact, researchers have found expressive writing can reduce the harmful effects of stressful life events and increase academic performance.

Stress can impair concentration and may affect studying habits and class attendance, according to a study focusing on stress management through written disclosure.

Another study on writing and adjustment after a relationship breakup reported expressive writing can have a positive effect on mood, physical health and social functioning.

For young people, factors outside of college life can cause stress, such as conflicts with family or significant others, the death of a loved one, the transition into self-sufficiency and many others.

Morrison, who hosts a radio show on the university station KXZY and co-hosts the TV show “The Honor Students,” which airs on the local access station in Stillwater, began writing for the purpose of producing his own material for comedic skits and film scripts.

“Initially, doing stand up was kind of a way to get attention and it also made me feel good to make people laugh,” Morrison said.

“But as I matured, my writing has gotten deeper to where I’ve found that I deal with a lot of my problems through stand up.”

His parents’ divorce is one of the most important problems with which Morrison said he has had to deal.

“I did a whole routine on the divorce,” Morrison said. “When I have a problem, I try to write it as a joke and it seems to help me too.”

In the study on written disclosure, the reason writing appears to help people is that the resolution of a stressful experience happens when a person recalls the event, accesses the emotions felt during that time and reflects on how the event affected them.

Baba Ogundipe, who co-hosts “The Honor Students” with Morrison, said that to him, writing is like an escape from reality.

“Writing is my main outlet for problems and I apply things that happen in my life; but it’s mostly for me to get away,” Ogundipe said. “I’m very private about my life so when I write for the show, it’s to help others to become aware of important social issues.”

As for Ogundipe, writing is a way people can disclose their innermost thoughts and feelings, especially if they don’t feel comfortable enough to confide in others.

Carol Green, a retired school superintendent, said when her students had a problem, it was sometimes easier for them to write everything down before talking about it with her. The students would write about who was involved, the circumstances of the situation and possible ways to resolve the issue.

“Writing is a good way to diffuse a situation because it gives students better insight into their problems and gives them a stronger sense of control in their lives,” Green said.

Journaling has also been used as a supplement to those who attend therapy sessions, but has become a popular independent intervention, according to a study comparing the effects of writing and drawing on psychological symptoms.

Joni Hays, a counselor with the University Counseling Services, said most counselors would recommend journaling or creative writing as a type of “homework” in connection with speaking to a counselor.

“Writing is a good way for students to clear their minds and they often report that it’s a great outlet for painful thoughts or emotions,” Hays said.

Many students have turned to “blogging,” a popular type of online journal where a person’s entries are open for everyone to read.

Hays said that even though “blogging” is popular, writing the old-fashioned way in a journal is a better, more private outlet.

Hays said at this time of year when many students are feeling overwhelmed with the pressures of final exams or unexpected crises, students should focus on what they can control, take better care of themselves and write down what they’ve learned this semester so they can apply it to the next.

“Writing, whether it’s creative writing or just in a journal, is a type of leisure activity that will help students manage their stress in both the short and long term,” Hays said.

According to the study “Gain Without Pain? Expressive Writing and Self-Regulation,” the way for people to enjoy the benefits of writing is to write about topics that are important to them in an effort to better understand their goals, needs and emotions to be able to move on toward the future.

Now, leaning against a pillar on the top step of Morrill Hall, Morrison thoughtfully looks out onto the campus darkened by the day’s cloud cover. He shifts his weight as the humid breeze slightly ruffles his short red-tinged hair and squints into the distance.

He takes a moment, as if replaying a scene in his mind, before forming his thoughts into words.

“There have been times when I was feeling really depressed and lonely and I just decided to sit down, write it all out and get it off my chest,” Morrison said. “It feels good to be able to go back, look at what I’ve written and remember those times. I can look at it and say, ‘Man, I’m glad I got through that,’ and it makes me appreciate all of the good things in my life.”