So, while venting may be good for building supportive relationships and feel good in the moment, it’s not enough to help us through. If others simply listen and empathize, they may inadvertently extend our emotional upset. The dark side of venting I know that I am guilty of wanting someone to listen to me when I’m upset—and not wanting advice right off the bat. If I’m in the midst of pain, trying to talk me out of my feelings or to offer pat solutions seems insensitive or even patronizing. Repeatedly venting over and over and over again, can create friction in social relationships,” says Kross. “There’s often a limit to how much listeners, your friends, can actually hear.” You can also create a video using the same hashtag. This is a popular option if you have difficulty writing and cannot express your feelings verbally. In these cases, a vent book can help. It can help them to process their feelings, and can help them process the stress. Whether or not you decide to create a video with a vent book, you can use it to share your feelings with friends and family. Ann: ‘I like really complex locations, places that hit you and strike you. Places that have different communities within them. I grew up in North Devon so I know it quite well and I like that mix of cosiness – we think of Devon as having cream teas and thatched cottages and there is a little bit of that about it but there’s more rugged and left behind than people realise and because it has Ilfracombe, an old-fashioned seaside town, with big hotels and guest houses, they’ve now become hostels for the homeless, places where drifters and transients come and go and I like very much that mix of different people.’

For some time, people who worked with trauma victims encouraged them to “debrief” afterward, having them talk through what happened to them to ward off post-traumatic stress. But a randomized controlled study found that this didn’t help much, likely because debriefing doesn’t help distance people from their trauma. Similarly, students who vented their anxiety after 9/11 suffered from more anxiety up to four months later than those who didn’t. As the study authors write, their “focus on and venting of emotions was found to be uniquely predictive of longer-term anxiety.” Still, all in all, Kross says venting is a good thing, helping us cope. If we can get past the letting off steam part, we can feel better in the long run and keep our relationships strong, too. The multiple layers of mouldings and twiddly details of classical architecture have proved useful for such deception, providing handy hiding places for grilles, vents and flues. When the Victoria Line was being constructed in the 1960s, residents of Gibson Square in Islington were horrified by the prospect of a concrete ventilation shaft erupting through their neat lawn. After a vocal campaign, classical architects Raymond Erith and Quinlan Terry were hired to provide a decorous disguise for the shaft, crafting a strange miniature temple topped with a cage-like dome, and a frieze appropriately derived from the Tower of the Winds in Athens. Ann: ‘Not a clue. When I start a book I don’t even know how that book’s going to end so to try and work out how many books I’ve got to write – there will certainly be more books because I loved writing it. I was very, very excited to finish writing that one and to think more about what might happen to Matthew Venn next but I’m not sure yet whether it will run and run or whether it will just be eight books like the Shetland series.’ A vent book is a type of journal that allows users to vent their emotions through drawings. Some people find venting healthy while others find it toxic, and this type of writing creates a cycle of resentment and significant anger. Venting is not healthy. There are many ways to vent that aren’t toxic. Here are some ideas for vent books:Journaling is proven to be a great pressure releasing valve and increase well-being. This can also improve mood, lower blood pressure and maybe even help with fewer stress – related doctor visits!

Our emotions are valuable sources of information, alerting us that something is wrong in our environment and needs our attention. Whether we need to confront someone who’s abusing us, hide to avoid danger, or seek comfort from friends, feelings like anger, fear, and sadness help us prepare to meet the moment. This book is pretty much a rant book, where I talk about things that are bothering or things that I'm excited about, but nobody can listen. If you know me irl, pretend that this never existed. There's a good reason why I don't tell people, that I know, my problems. Language: English Words: 985 Chapters: 2/? Hits: 31Consider the type of journal that you will use. A spiral-bound notebook, a lined notebook, or a composition book are good options if you plan on writing a lot. If you’d like to draw and express yourself, consider using a sketchbook. You should choose a typeface that is suitable for both drawing and writing. You can use a variety of materials, including paper that will be resistant to stains and abrasions. Sharing our feelings also provides an opportunity to gain insight into what’s causing our difficult feelings and avert future upsets. Sometimes, just verbalizing what’s bothering us to another person helps to clarify the situation and name the emotions involved. Or, if we get caught in emotional whirlwinds, our confidants can provide new perspectives and offer sound advice, says Kross. The same is true of grief or anxiety following trauma. While we should of course seek support from those around us during difficult times of loss and pain, if we simply relive our experience without finding some way to soothe ourselves or find meaning, it could extend our suffering. Be careful around online venting. While sharing our emotions online can help us feel better in the moment and identify supportive allies, results can be mixed. For one thing, negative emotions easily spread online, which may create a herd mentality, resulting in bullying or trolling—especially if you identify a particular person as responsible for your feelings. While it’s unclear if venting online is an overall good or bad thing, it may not help you gain the perspective you need to move forward.