Writing On Trauma Writing Prompt!
Prompt 2 of 25...
To catch you up: I’m sending out writing prompts specifically geared for writing about trauma. These prompts will be sent weekly to all my subscribers, and I am going to host a personal writing group for paying subscribers (you can subscribe for as little as $1/mo!) to share and explore these prompts together, with the ultimate goal of publishing finished pieces to the CounterStory Media audience. Each week’s email will also include a self-care tip, as it is vitally important to engage in robust self-care while writing about trauma.
Weekly Prompt #2:
Write about if and when you’ve downplayed your traumatic experiences. Why?
My two cents:
Oh I could write volumes about this. I was living with the gaslight queen until I reached 18, and it was months later when I was drunkenly relaying some thing or another from my home and everyone was staring in horror that I realized that many things I went through were not normal or “okay”.
Living with an abusive spouse also makes one downplay the reality of their situation on a regular basis. When I lied so easily about how I got the black eye, I realized the situation was spiraling out of control and I really had to get out.
Exploring how, when, and why we downplayed our trauma leads our minds down the path of how stepping forward in our truth requires a different skill set, one we may still be building. That’s okay! Build on!
A life lived in truth, out in the sunshine, is worth all the hard work it takes to get there!
Self-Care Tip of the Week:
Get Enough Sleep
Sleep plays a crucial role in our mental health. Lack of sleep can lead to increased stress and anxiety while getting enough sleep can improve our mood and overall mental health. Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep each night and establish a relaxing bedtime routine to help you fall asleep easier.
My two cents:
As a mom of a large family, I used to have excuse after excuse as to why I “couldn’t” get enough sleep. The vast majority of it was just that: excuses.
A nightly bedtime routine, physical self-care like showering, taking medications and supplements, hydrating, and reading before a sensible [read: nerd-early] bedtime helps keep me functioning on all cylinders. Losing sleep is the quickest way for my mental health to tumble.
When I have written a lengthy piece about my trauma, I am exhausted. To relive the experience in enough detail to write descriptively is an extraordinarily difficult task. It drains me emotionally, mentally, and even, somehow, physically. I know on those days, I am definitely going to want to hit the hay at the normal time to recoup my energy for the next day and the next piece.
Telling our stories, like the story of my life and the people I’ve met and what I’ve experienced, humanizes the nature of these horrific actions by our government’s leaders. If you would like to share your story, as a member of the LGBT community, or as an immigrant or migrant or refugee, please send me a message.
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I am thrilled to welcome you on the journey of exploring healing through your words. I hope you’ll consider using these prompts to process difficult memories, experiences, and emotions during a time when it is all the more vital that we actively cultivate positive mental health in whatever ways available to us.
In solidarity,
My name is Melissa Corrigan, and I’m a freelance writer/thought sharer/philosopher in coastal Virginia. I am a mom, a wife, a veteran, and so much more. I deeply enjoy sharing my thoughts and receiving feedback that sparks genuine, respectful conversation.
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