The Intersection of Trauma & Storytelling

Processing Your trauma through narrative:

This one is huge. Often, we splice off our trauma as part of our brain’s attempt to control the experience. Storytelling allows us to explore the traumatic event safely, giving our brain and bodies a chance to make sense of the experience. 

Externalizing and Detachment

There’s a reason I  write fantasy. Creating stories about fictional characters provides traumatized individuals with a self-directed & non threatening way to think about the trauma, and rumble with it, without it feeling so visceral and like it’s happening in real time. It’s kind of like playing make-believe; it’s easier to engage with if it doesn’t have to be you feeling the pain for a sec. 

Redefine the paradigm:

Narrative writing provides traumatized individuals with an opportunity to reflect on and meaningfully reframe their traumatic experiences. Through narrative exploration, the traumatized can gain perspective and clarity on surrounding events and cognitions, and move toward using their creative freedom to redefine the experience as one of resilience and survival, rather than just victimhood. 

Reclaiming Ownership & Autonomy:

Trauma often steals our sense of self, along with our sense of safety, from us. Narrative exploration allows the traumatized to tell the story they need and want, one that feels right to them, without censorship. This action helps traumatized people reclaim what happened to them and become the owners of their story. Losing your voice is part of what perpetuates the damage.  

Integration & Empowerment:

Experiencing trauma creates a version of the self that becomes hypervigilant day-to-day, in an effort to keep you safe. While our body and brains are super smart, this can become a huge problem for trauma survivors. Through narrative exploration, traumatized individuals can work through how to include the trauma as part of their story, while no longer allowing it to define themselves and their lives.

So, pick up a pen, the notes app on your phone, a laptop...whatever you have...and begins telling the story only you can share today. Chances are it'll help your healing process, and someone else's.

With love,

Camille

<3