anyone done a trauma narrative?

T wants me to do a practice one this week. In session, I was sure I knew what she meant. Now that I try to sit down and do it, I am stumbling all over myself and it's not even the much heavier stuff we will be doing later...
She said to write it in detail, beginning/middle/end... only now I don't know what that means. I get stupid walking into therapy, but apparently I get stupider afterwards... She said I could do art around it as well if I wanted, whatever was easier.
I'm so confused. Has anyone here done one? What's it like? (thinking my assumption around T's expectations are creeping in to make this way harder than it should be).
Thanks.

nm... think I figured it out. Spent the last 3 hours doing one... :/ so spent now.

That was pretty challenging hw. Hi five for getting it done.

Awesome job on getting it done TWO .......So...what is it exactly, if you don't mind me asking?

My T had me write a list of the trauma I wanted to work through.....I wasn't able to do a complete one as it was too much......but I understand if you work on one, then those similar appear to be worked on also.

I can not imagine having to write a description of the trauma from beginning to end!! Eeek!

Thanks. It was definitely heavy.
Jane, to the best of my knowledge, a trauma narrative is just writing out the trauma incident in as much detail as possible, including emotions & thoughts around it at the time.
I thought the one I picked wouldn't be as rough, but it so took a lot out of me. I wrote about 2 closely connected memories. It was weird that the one I thought I was more ok with was actually the harder one. I knew there was shame around it, but didn't realize how much other stuff was wrapped up in it...

I had to wrote out a time line for a t once. It was completely overwhelmingly... I missed a lot of stuff the first few times around with that thing. Glad this t has not asked for one...

Could someone tell me why doing a trauma narrative is supposed to be helpful? And has anyone found it helpful? Thanks.

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I think it's similar in effect to prolonged exposure therapy, though don't quote me on it.

For me, it's getting it out and also being able to share it with a safe person (T). I have found it helps decrese my flashbacks of the event, and it helps me feel not to totally alone in it. I've written some of the stuff out before when journaling, but I found the sharing piece is what helps me move past it.

It's not for everyone though. There are some people that move past trauma better by focusing on building from that point forward. I think the reason it helps me is that much of what happened did so in secret for many years. Finally being able to not be alone in it is a huge help.

My therapist has got me to do this, I have tried four times I think but I have never got to the traumatic event, but it has highlighted other feelings anxieties and emotions that I wasn't aware of before, maybe give it a try, don't push yourself too hard, and my therapist told me to do it in the first person.

Hope it helps

I came across this article, and while it doesn't mention PTSD, it does talk about how for some people writing things out may work much better than talking them out.

So, writing a narrative, even if part of that comes out here in the PTSD forum, can actually work better than sitting with a therapist and talking out one's personal history.

Personally, I have noticed that at different more challenging moments when a person is struggling through a cycle, they choose to try to write it out, even if some words are missing. I know I did that myself, I also tended to repeat thoughts unknowingly too.
However, by writting it out, I got so I had something to read back to myself too, in that I was able to work on adding more, or even understanding "what areas" I was struggling with too.

So don't discount writing things out, it could prove very helpful in slowly getting to that much needed narriative of finally being able to "verbalize" one's own challenges.

How the Brain Separates Our Ability to Talk and Write | Neuroscience News

This is really timely to read, thanks for the link OE!

I am so struggling to translate my kjowledge to paper at uni in writing my assignments. Verbally I make sense of things so easily, but have huge trouble forming cohesive sentences that make sense! It has been driving me crazy. Maybe this explains it.

I wonder why? Why his happens? Is it because parts of the brain are injured from the trauma? Who knows, what I do know is that it is completely frustrating.

Jane, just keep in mind that some people are more talented at writing, while others are at vocalizing. We have leaders/politiicians here in the States that are better at hanging close to the writing, and are not as good at free speaking. For example, Obama has been known to prefer the teleprompter where he can see things written down, rather than speaking freely.

If you are in a job where interacting and speaking is important, then all you can do is your best when it comes to your education and doing things in writing. Not doing really well with the writting doesn't have to mean a "hurt" brain either, it could just be that your brain is simply not as good at that.

However, one of the challenges some have with PTSD is spending a lot of time reading.
It's not unusual for someone with PTSD to see a lengthy post and be turned off. I try to put whatever I say in short paragraphs if I can as that is easier for someone with PTSD to handle.

I dread thot of doing that kind of work. Livd my whole life complaining about it blaming for it but actually facing it alone is too scary

Kathi