Sufferer Writing Your Memories

[Tragic Girl]

Hello, everyone.

After feeling I mastered my PTSD in my 20s, it's back in my 30s. I've started writing a lot to deal with this... reliving my memories and owning my feelings instead of avoiding them. It's early but I think it will help.

I'd love to get to know other writers who are doing the same. Curious to know if this has helped you in this process of living with PTSD, and whether the unsettling nature of remembering is worth it. I'd love to read your stuff.

Tragic Girl

 

[shadowchaser]

It's worth it. I never published anything but it always helps to just write it down

 

[amethist]

Hi Tragic Girl

Welcome to the forum.

You can read about many members stories, throughout the forum. The Introduction section has many beginnings, with follow on's in the main PTSD section.

Facing how you feel and working through them, is so much better than trying to ignore them. Remembering past events does unsettle you, but you may be able to move forward and leave them behind in time.

Take care and keep going forward.

Amethist

 

[reallydown]

Hi Tragic Girl,

Welcome to the forum.
I don't know if I should admit to being a writer...but...I guess I don't have the courage to write about my "stuff"...even if I fictionalize. Perhaps I don't fully own it yet. Alas.

 

[Philippa]

Hi,

I've been doing this for a while, and it does help I think, though sometimes I wonder whether I am just dwelling on stuff. But I think even that is just conditioned social judgement. Whilst it is not healthy to dwell for too long on anything, I think a certain level of dwelling needs to occur to be able to exorcise all the bad feelings and really make what happened real in your mind, so you can integrate it as part of your overall experience. It helps also in a way as you can then step back from it and not over identify with the trauma...like it's not the sum total of your overall experience as a human. I think we can tend to over identify with these events and the pain...so it's good to get it out.

I've also taken to calling sexual assault hotlines and spilling my guts about the way dad treated me in the aftermath, which was harder for the counsellor to hear I think than it was for me to say...but maybe I was speaking with detachment from it emotionally?

 

[missyj31]

Hi all, diagnosed C-PTSD in Feb. I also have very fragmented memories until the age of 8. I'm now 31, onset of symptoms upon becoming a mother 5 years ago.
I have had narrative therapy in my teens which helped immensely, and have always had a natural affinity with writing/literature. I found myself in a voluntary role at a hospice as a biographer in a therapy based biography service three years ago, which involves the patient free-talking while we sit & listen equipped with a dictaphone. We later transcribe it & read back to them. I have seen the amazing cathartic effect and recollection of many lost memories through this process. I would advise therapeutic support in a PTSD case though x x

 

[joeylittle]

Hi @missyj31. I want to let you know I deleted your multiple postings of the content above; we prefer to not duplicate posts.

You might start your own introductions thread - that's a good way to put your background into a place where members can find it easily.

This thread you responded to is from 2010. That's fine, but in this case, starting your own introduction thread might be better.

Thanks for understanding!

 

[missyj31]

Hi! I understand, I posted not as introduction so much, but to share what I witnessed in the biography service regarding narrative therapy with others who are exploring writing for therapy x

 

[anthony]

Writing is very good... and is actually an exposure therapy method, which is highly PTSD effective. Well done on your own work @missyj31

 

[Brokensoul88]

I have never spoken about what happened to me. It took several attempts to write it, I kept going back to it and filling in the bits I couldn't bear to write about as I found the courage to put it on a page. I have to start talking about why happened at my next T session so that will be my aid to give me focus and work through. I also used a "cleaner" version when telling the few friends who know. It's the only way I have thus far been able to express it. So in answer to your question yes I think writing is very helpful for a multitude of problems.