Internet journals are increasing daily. People use them to communicate with the world at large, political candidates use them to spread their message, even companies have started using them for advertising. In the end though, these are just another medium for an age-old practice. Keeping a journal.

Why should you keep a journal? Well it lets you get things out that you may have difficulty saying to other people. Some people find it cathartic to be able to write things out as they happen, or shortly after the fact. Other times, it can serve as a log of how you feel when things happen, which can be especially useful if you have problems remembering emotions (that can sometimes be a side-effect of depression). This way you can reference it later and find things that you want to point out to a therapist.

What kind of journal should you keep? This depends on you. Some people find the feel of pen on paper comforting and prefer that kind of journal. If you lose it, however, then it is gone. There are journals that are kept on your computer, if you prefer typing. You can type it out, save it to a hard drive. If you have a laptop, you even have the portability of a hand-written journal. Unfortunately, you still have issues regarding keeping the journal. A virus on your computer, or a power-failure and you can lose what you wrote. It can also send your journal onto the internet without your choosing. Finally, there are internet journals. They are already on the internet, but could be read by anybody. Even if you lock them, they can be read unintentionally.

Obviously, no solution is perfect, but there are advantages to having a journal. By keeping one, you can make sure that you are tracking your road to health and keep yourself encouraged in many ways.