I’m asking for some advice on the emotional aspects of writing a book about experiencing trauma, or rather a series of traumas.
My husband committed suicide four years ago. As a result, among other things, I have PTSD. I want to write a book about my experiences dealing with the trauma as it happened, and dealing with the aftermath.
I have already written quite a bit about it ( about 400 MS pages), but I stopped when I went into a emotional shutdown mode to protect my mental health. What I have written is very rough, much of it written as events occurred. It has many holes in it, however, so I would have to go back and relive those events just to get the bare bones of them on paper. There were 6 suicide attempts before he succeeded. I have only about 70 pages of the time that includes the 6 suicide attempts my husband made in a year and a half. However, I have about 350 pages about after he suicided. There is a lot that I did not yet include in that difficult year and a half. This means I must go back, remember and write about those times. I’m worried about the affect of reliving these events might have on my mental health. I also wonder if writing and completing the MS would allow me to move forward. I am just in a state of existing right now.
I would greatly appreciate it if you could help me by answering the questions I have listed below. Thank you.
How long after the events did you (or were you able) to write about them?
What was it like to write about such painful things?
What were the pitfalls of writing about such painful things?
How did you feel while writing about it?
How did you feel after writing about it?
How did you survive re-experiencing the traumatic events?
How did you deal with the emotions the writing brought about?
Why did you write the book?
How did you feel about exposing yourself so openly to other people?
Did you have any concerns or problems revealing negative or personal things about the deceased? If yes, how did you deal with those concerns?
What kinds of reactions did your family and friends have to you revealing such personal things about the deceased? How did you deal with those reactions? Did concern over your reputation, or the reputation of the deceased affect how and what you wrote?
Do you have any advice to offer someone writing about trauma?
My husband committed suicide four years ago. As a result, among other things, I have PTSD. I want to write a book about my experiences dealing with the trauma as it happened, and dealing with the aftermath.
I have already written quite a bit about it ( about 400 MS pages), but I stopped when I went into a emotional shutdown mode to protect my mental health. What I have written is very rough, much of it written as events occurred. It has many holes in it, however, so I would have to go back and relive those events just to get the bare bones of them on paper. There were 6 suicide attempts before he succeeded. I have only about 70 pages of the time that includes the 6 suicide attempts my husband made in a year and a half. However, I have about 350 pages about after he suicided. There is a lot that I did not yet include in that difficult year and a half. This means I must go back, remember and write about those times. I’m worried about the affect of reliving these events might have on my mental health. I also wonder if writing and completing the MS would allow me to move forward. I am just in a state of existing right now.
I would greatly appreciate it if you could help me by answering the questions I have listed below. Thank you.
How long after the events did you (or were you able) to write about them?
What was it like to write about such painful things?
What were the pitfalls of writing about such painful things?
How did you feel while writing about it?
How did you feel after writing about it?
How did you survive re-experiencing the traumatic events?
How did you deal with the emotions the writing brought about?
Why did you write the book?
How did you feel about exposing yourself so openly to other people?
Did you have any concerns or problems revealing negative or personal things about the deceased? If yes, how did you deal with those concerns?
What kinds of reactions did your family and friends have to you revealing such personal things about the deceased? How did you deal with those reactions? Did concern over your reputation, or the reputation of the deceased affect how and what you wrote?
Do you have any advice to offer someone writing about trauma?
