What is the theory behind the Processing Trauma Worksheet?

Writing down about your traumatic event is difficult at first but when you start talking, sharing, or journaling about it you get a sense of relief. It’s like that when a trauma is trapped inside you it frequently gives you unpleasant sensations, flashbacks of the traumatic memories, and uncontrollable distressing emotions. If you don’t let this trapped trauma come out, you will always be feeling these unpleasant symptoms. Researches also suggest that when people express negative emotions and feelings, they reach a healing effect.  Therefore, in order to process and regulate your trauma you need to look back to all the negative experiences, and this way you can decrease the intensity of your negative feelings and emotions.

How will this worksheet help you? 

Processing trauma worksheets can help you in the following ways. 

1. It will give a sense of relief when you write down your thoughts, feelings, and ideas about the traumatic event. 
2. The catharsis of your negative experiences can push you toward the process of healing. 
3. It will change your perspective of looking at that traumatic event and your distress related to this event will also be reduced. 
4. It will also give you a sense of how our negative experiences change our views about ourselves, others, and this world. 
5. By gaining insight into this issue, we can change and modify our beliefs into healthier and positive ones because one or two experiences don’t define ourselves, the people around us, and this world. 

How to use this worksheet?

This worksheet needs a lot of focus, mindful attention, and a relaxing state to work on it. 

You may feel negative symptoms and uneasiness, it’s better if you take pauses and relax in between. 

Think about your traumatic event and write your honest feelings and thoughts about it. Focus on the sensations and feelings you experience while writing it and mention them in the last part of the worksheet.

References