Writing Exercises

[GMW]

Hi Guys

I wondered if anyone knew of any specific writing exercises for dealing with trauma? Specifically abuse and SA trauma? I've tried googling and nothing really specific comes up.

I'm into art therapy and illustrative journalling (where you take a quote or a specific sentence you've written and make art from it) but I am a prolific writer and I find it helps more than anything else.

I remember as a teen I went through The Courage To Heal and more recently the R recovery handbook but some of the exercises I just couldn't get into. I ran out of emotional energy to actually write about the assaults and abuse so left it there.

I am in traditional, talking therapy but I just need/want to be able to process what I'm feeling outside then too. It seems like therapy triggers something, I will go away, process and think some more about it and ease some of the confusion myself.

Thanks

 

[Killashandra]

I am in traditional, talking therapy but I just need/want to be able to process what I'm feeling outside then too. It seems like therapy triggers something, I will go away, process and think some more about it and ease some of the confusion myself.

Hi gmw,

I like that it takes you time to process things like that. I am the same way though it takes me ages to process things.. I'm such a slow methodical thinker. I don't like rushing into things and I research nearly everything before making any decisions, writing helps me put things into perspective.

I have been working my way through the book Courage to heal and I agree some of the writing exercises don't appeal to me either, I just pick and choose which one I am capable of completing on any given day/week/month. I find free writing disturbing.

Surviving to Thriving by Pete Walker has some good writing exercises and also his website. Also Sarah Edelman Change your Thinking has some excellent non emotional writing exercises.

I hope this helps

Killa

 

[JEKBreatheandBelieve]

Glad to see someone had a response for you. I write poetry when I need to get words out on paper, but I haven't tried it with anything specifically related to SA. I have the Courage to Heal book, but have not begun it yet. I, also, have Surviving to Thriving and like what I have read so far so I think I will look into some of the writing exercises in there. Wish I could be more help.

 

[GMW]

Thanks guys! I've looked at the Pete Walker website and some of what he wrote had me in tears - I can identify with nearly all of it (specifically the bit about co-dependency and compliance... I always thought I was "just a people pleaser" but it goes deeper than that, I've actually lost who I am in an effort to make everyone else happy and I can anticipate and adjust to everyone else's needs and desires.One of my abusers called me a pleasure gelf (an alien that can appear to be any man's ideal woman, she changes appearance/personality etc based on which man is looking at her)... unfortunately even though that guy was a bastard, he was right. When I can't anticipate or adapt (because I'm communicating via text for example, I get very very insecure when I can't read body language or see someone's eyes and face... I imagine they hate me and so I act in ridiculous ways to avoid abandonment and rejection. Pete Walker is so right. I might check out his book.

Thanks so much

 

[JEKBreatheandBelieve]

I've actually lost who I am in an effort to make everyone else happy and I can anticipate and adjust to everyone else's needs and desires.

I can relate to that statement so much!

 

[Freedomfighter]

Thanks guys! I've looked at the Pete Walker website and some of what he wrote had me in tears - I can ident...

That is what my dad did to my mom. She was consumed with trying to make a good life for him, to be everything he needed and he abused that trust.

I myself enjoy tremendously who I am, all the way. I do not and will not adjust to what anyone else thinks the ideal person, or woman should be.

And that is exactly what attracts the opposite gender, they will never admit to that of course. I have females I work with who are trying to copy that, who are trying to act just like me to attract males. But since they are just fakes they always attract loosers and they always will.

It is great to be your own person but it is also dangerous. I have been abused by so many guys who noticed that I did not let them get close to me. There have been many guys who wanted to destroy me because I did not let them get close to me. Apalling