Dear Trauma: If I could write a letter to my PTSD or Trauma, I would say... [fill in the blank]
Try to post a letter to your ptsd or trauma below. I learned about this coping technique today. The idea is that writing the letter will shine awareness on how our ptsd or traumatic past affects us, remind us that these things don't define who we are, and release the feelings and thoughts we have about it. It's okay if you don't know what to write to your ptsd, maybe a simple 'Hello, I know you're there.' is a good start? Some things to think about including are: tell your ptsd how you feel about it, update your traumatic past on how you're doing now, boast about your accomplishments, remind your traumatic past you haven't given up -- whatever you would say to it if you could.
What would you say to your trauma or ptsd?
Dear Trauma,
. . .
It's only fair that I start, so let's give this a try...
Dear Trauma / PTSD,
Hello. It's been a while. I'm still here. I see you're still here too. I wish you weren't. You complicate things for me. You take and give nothing back. You gang up on me with my depression and my anxiety. I don't know if you're having fun, but I'm certainly not enjoying this. You're not allowed to hurt me. As soon as I think I have a handle on myself, you remind me that you're there. You make it hard for me to think clearly. Sometimes you make it hard for me to breathe. It's not okay. I hope one day you go back to the past where you belong. I suppose it's not your fault that I have you, but I wish you would leave me alone all the same...
See you later,
- Me.
@wontsleepwontwake
Gosh, that was profound.You nailed that. I could not have expressed it better. Thank you.
Keep going This is a good thread
@wontwakewontsleep
Wow that was definitely right on the dot!
You nailed it! Well done!
Hello PTSD. When they first told me I had PTSD I felt like they were just pointing out all of the things that seemed to be spinning out of control. You represented panic attacks and inconvenient 20 drives out of my way to avoid driving down a certain street. Your title felt like a stamp on my forhead saying, 'unstable', 'hysterical'.... I cant say that I appreciated any of your attributes. But today I am feeling like knowing you were there may have been the start of me seeing the actions of evil people and what they caused in me. I started to see that I am normal. I have resonded normally to very abnormal experiences. Yes I feel broken and fragile but you have shown me that it isnt my fault. My brain did what it was supposed to do to protect me. You did what you were supposed to do to protect me. Thank you for showing me the beauty in my own resiliency. Thank you for helping me to survive and to heal.
@copingwithtrauma
You are so strong! You wrote a beautiful letter and I am so glad you are on the path of healing I believe in you and your courage! :)
@TheHoneyDoll
Wow! Thanks for the encouraging words! <3
Finding beauty and peace in a traumatic situation has been extremely hard. Making sense of all the madness has been a daily chore.
I hope to see more of these letters :)
I would say something that I
Dear trauma
It probably doesn't surprise you to know I don't like you. You're like an unwanted house guest. I didn't invite you in but you've made me your home. You've taken me hostage in my own body. You're a liar and a thief. You tell me that I deserved it. You tell me that I was a bad kid and now I'm a bad adult. You break things. You broke my mind - my body and my spirit. You stole so much from me. You steal hope. You steal happiness. You steal dreams. You steal voices. You steal any chance for a normal life. You steal my sleep and leave me nightmares. You destroy relationships. You keep me frozen in place. Silent and afraid. You've given me unhealthy coping skills. You feed the insecurities - the self doubt - the anxiety and depression. You're a cancer that eats away at everything and I hate you. Just wanted you to know
Hey there trauma, it's me again I do wish you'd quiet down, I never asked you to be there in the first place and frankly I don't think I deserve you. You've spent your time shouting me down, telling me nobody wants me, that I'm an aweful daughter, sister, partner, friend.. that I'm just bad, and I'm stupid for ever thinking otherwise
You get in the way of everything, every little bit, give it a rest already please, I'm tired.
I'm willing to work with you but you've gotta give me something ..
You used to be quieter
Dear trauma ,
I am grateful for you because it has made me who i m today
I get it. Things were really bad, what I felt and when I feel you only makes sense. I wish I could move on but also know that I am not in a space to move on yet. I do respect you, even though I probably neglected myself for far too long, and everything I am feeling is just letting me know that. I wish I would feel better, but I know that it only makes sense you are there. I hope we can figure this out together eventually with the support of someone if necessary.
@KittyKeats
I really like this perspective. It's okay to not feel ready to move on. I think it's cool that you'e willing to work with the trauma, and not deny it, push it way, pretend it didn't happen. In my experience that's how a lot of healing happens. Hope you've been able to find the support to work through anything that you've been ready to tackle. You deserve to feel better.
@wontwakewontsleep
Dear PTSD,
I am very glad we haven't seen each other for almost a year now. I thought you would never leave. But you did. And I am very thankful for that.
I know now that I am a very strong and lovable person who didn't deserve any of this.
Lots of love
Marlee
@LovelyMarlee
Love this! Hope that you are still feeling these words!
You absolutely did not deserve whatever trauma you experienced, and I love that you acknowledge that!
