Expressive Writing Workshop for Adults Living With Paralysis from Neurological Conditions

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to support adults living with paralysis caused by neurological conditions such as spinal cord injury, traumatic head injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, transverse myelitis, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ALS. It focuses on using expressive emotional writing as a way to help individuals cope with grief related to loss of physical ability, social roles, and life goals. The program seeks to shift participants mindsets from focusing on their disabilities to restoring daily function and improving emotional well-being. The expressive emotional writing program will be offered over 10 consecutive weeks, with weekly writing activities held at two community organizations, the Is-Able Center and the Lakeshore Foundation in Birmingham, Alabama. These organizations provide supportive services for individuals with disabilities. The program includes facilitators who guide writing activities and discussions, and participants may receive mileage reimbursement for attending. Participants will be involved in writing sessions and discussions while their emotional and physical health will be assessed using multiple measures such as grief and loss scales, depression and stress assessments, sleep disturbance, social role participation, resilience, and caregiver burden. Biological measures like cortisol levels will also be collected. The total participation time is 11 weeks, with evaluations conducted to understand the programs impact on quality of life and emotional distress.

AIM's Writing for Healing: A Workshop for Individuals Living With Paralysis