Writing On Trauma Writing Prompt!
Prompt 7 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 #7:
Do I have anger, fear, resentment? In what ways are those feelings helping or hurting me? What would need to happen for me to release those emotions?
My two cents:
I absolutely struggle with all three of these, but especially resentment. It’s hard, as an adult who has children, to not hold resentment towards the adults who didn’t protect you as a child. Eventually, I realized some of those feelings were definitely not helping my progress to healing.
Conversely, the ‘fear’ you learn from navigating life with a narcissist and/or abuser feeds your intuition that informs your decisions and judgments of others later in life. You may learn to recognize the “red flags” and stay away from people who intend to cause you harm. Remember to explore both the helping and the hurting aspects as you work through this exercise.
Self-Care Tip of the Week:
Set Boundaries
Setting boundaries is an important part of self-care. It can be challenging to say no, but it’s crucial to prioritize your mental health and well-being. Consider setting boundaries in various areas of your life, such as work or relationships.
My two cents:
Another excellent writing prompt/self care tip alignment.
Like I mentioned above, the situations that cause you fear may cause you to recognize the “red flags” that lead to appropriate boundary setting in your current life. You can’t change the past and the trauma you’ve endured, but you can set boundaries to avoid experiencing similar trauma in your future.
Take note of how your boundaries are received. Many people are comfortable treating you poorly, and your boundaries challenge that. If someone has an exaggerated response to a boundary, take note. They’re telling you their comfort is more important to them than your happiness and sanity. Listen to them and proceed accordingly.
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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