Write two versions of the traumatic event, one in the past tense (remembering it from your current perspective), the other in the present tense (entering back into the immediate moment). Ideally take time in between the versions, and don’t look at the past tense version when you begin writing the present tense one; the point here is not to have two identical versions with the verb tenses changed, but rather, to examine and learn from the differences in how you remember, and how to transform that memory: Do you reflect more in the past tense? Do you have greater access to physical and emotional details in the present tense? Do you cover more ground in the past tense version, and go deeper and narrower in the present tense? Is your narrative voice different in the two versions (this may come up especially if the moment is in childhood)?
Other Question and Answers that can be helpful for you
1. What is trauma and what causes it?
The term covers open head injuries, in which an object has broken the skull and entered the brain, and closed injuries, when a person has received a hard blow.
2. What do I need to know about trauma?
- Type (s) of trauma the child is exposed to
- Number and types of co-occurring hardships (i.e. poverty, homelessness, previous trauma, parental separation, or substance use)
- Mental & physical health of the child and his/her caregivers
- Resilience factors within the family
- Childs developmental stage (consideration of chronological age & emotional age)
3. What is an example of trauma?
Examples include being in a war zone, a natural disaster, or an accident. Trauma can cause a wide range of physical and emotional symptoms. Not everyone who experiences a stressful event will
4. How to overcome a traumatic situation?
When you feel overwhelmed by traumatic stress, try this simple exercise:
- Sit on a chair, with your feet on the ground and your back supported by the chair.
- Look around you and pick six objects that have red or blue in them.
- Alternately, you may want to go outdoors and find a peaceful place to sit on the grass, and feel supported by the ground.