Processing Trauma & Stress

Writing down your thoughts and feelings after a traumatic experience can help you get thoughts outside of your head. It can also help reduce the distress caused by giving you the ability to gain perspective about the experience.

Write down anything that comes to mind related to the trauma you experienced.

These changes in beliefs are there to protect you from future harm, even when threats are gone. They can change the way you relate to others, whether or how you take risks, or how you feel positively about yourself.

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This worksheet comes from Mental Health America’s Mental Health Month 2021 Toolkit

Identify the feelings you experienced while reflecting on your story. Do you notice how your body has changed in response to those feelings?

Trauma can shape the way you see yourself, others, and the world, whether you’ve had multiple traumatic experiences or carried trauma for a long time. Even when threats are gone, your beliefs have often changed to protect you from future harm. This, in turn, can affect how you feel positively about yourself, whether or how you take risks, and the way you relate to others.

How have your traumatic experiences shaped the way you see yourself, others, the world?

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Keep Your Mind Grounded

That worksheet is used to practice grounding yourself as a coping skill for unwanted feelings and thoughts. Practicing these techniques can help you get unstuck from your body and your mind.

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