The Importance of Self-Expression After Trauma

Life can be difficult for everyone–across all boundaries of existence such as race, gender, age, and many more–-but for those who have had to deal with more complex, systemic personal struggles and braced themselves through chronic adversity, it can be even harder. There are many outlets to choose from, but a particularly valuable method of overcoming adversity is to participate in the creative process. In order to explore the creative process in closer detail and determine how to wield creativity to pick yourself back up and grow into a stronger person, it may be helpful to first become familiar with the most popular outlets among other survivors.

Popular Creative Outlets Among Survivors

Visual Arts
Removed from the context of trauma, visual art such as paintings, sketches, illustrations or comics–are already used in various ways to help us contextualize our understanding of mental health, as well as a means of connection between niche groups, such as survivors of domestic abuse. The very nature of visual art is its subjectivity–where no answer is inherently more accurate than another and much is left up to the interpretation of the viewer. It has the ability to affect our emotional core without telling us anything. By translating your emotions into scribbles within a sketchbook, or into splatters across a canvas, exploring visual art mediums can help reduce your overall stress, enhance your self-awareness abilities, and provide you with a deeper sense of well-being.

You don’t have to be artistically-inclined to start!

There are still many ways to engage with creativity that don’t require you to already be an artist. For example, the journal included in the picture was created completely using found materials and didn’t require the creator to draw anything—but it’s still a beautiful, creative, and interactive way to journal about their favorite things.

Composition
There’s also writing. Composing the written word is an art form that is more direct in terms of the types of its messaging and themes. However, in spite of this key difference, writing harnesses an awful amount of healing power. From lowering your blood pressure, to strengthening your immune system, to reducing your overall stress levels and providing heightened clarity, expressive writing can affect you in a deeper way than you may initially be prepared for.

Writing can be a purely solo venture–writing purely for oneself without the intention of sharing any of the content, or you could choose to join a writing community and create alongside like-minded writers, some who may have dealt with similar traumas in their pasts. The choice to write about past traumas has a cleansing effect on the brain, as you free up cognitive resources to increase your focus which can, in turn, improve your problem-solving capabilities. It’s important to note that trauma can, over time, cause reparable damage to your brain, so by translating your thoughts and feelings into composed pieces, you’re allowing your brain a cause to organize itself and the trauma you’ve endured.

You don’t have to be creative alone!

Lots of interests encourage participants--especially cosplayers & LARPers, drag queens, and competitive e-sports players--to form relationships with others within their communities.

Less-Advanced Creative Outlets
Creative expression comes in many forms and while some methods may be beneficial to one person’s growth, another could work better for someone else. Some people find that working on jigsaw puzzles or coloring books help to calm their minds, allowing them to refocus their energy on their more important tasks. Focusing on shapes and colors allows your brain to relax and settle on something simpler–something you also have a fair amount of control over. Setting aside time to perform unconventional, yet equally-creative activities like this every day can not only provide a sense of control over your life, but can also grant you dedicated time to tap into your inner child.

Another popular, alternative method to expressing yourself creatively–and one that draws the less-inherently-creative crowd–is to blend these methods to create a journal–a collection of images, words, and photos. You could also include drawings of your feelings when words fail to capture how you’re truly feeling. On the other end of the spectrum, some people could find something more physical, like dancing or playing an instrument, is a better outlet for them. Whatever you decide is the best method, or set of methods, it’s important that your activities give both your brain and your body a chance to rest and express your feelings in productive, safe ways.

Self-Expression & Self-Reflection

The Impact of the Self-Reflection Process
Self-reflection is a more internal process, targeted less at expressing your feelings and more so on understanding them. An effective way to self-reflect consists of finding a serene, quiet location–one completely free of distractions and negative associations–and setting your intention. When setting an intention for meditation, try to focus on what you want to gain during this time–the more specific your questions or intentions, the more you’ll be able to focus on the areas of your life you’d like to improve upon outside of your meditative state. The activities you choose can include those mentioned earlier, or something more passive like meditation–as long as it gives you a chance to quiet your mind.

The Impact of Self-Expression
Self-expression, while a more hands-on and physical experience than self-reflection, is equally important to expressing even the most complicated and buried emotions–a quiet and understated act that greatly depends on the person. Regardless of how self-expression is practiced, it causes the heightening of one’s personal well-being and personal growth. Previously, specific methods for expressing yourself were discussed, but there are also a few, simpler strategies that can enhance your growth. These strategies, although sometimes as straightforward as the act of acknowledging your emotions, can be extremely healing–especially in cases where people have experienced trauma. 

Marsha P. Johnson (1945 - 1992)

Marsha was an American gay & transgender liberation activist, a self-identified drag queen, and a fierce advocate for equity and fearless self-expression.

Today, on August 24th and Marsha’s birthday, Deliverance Charities pledges to honor Marsha P. Johnson’s memory by honoring the self-expression process in all of its wonderful forms, and by fiercely defending our LGBTQ+ family and their right to a peaceful, loving, & healthy existence.

Happy 79th Birthday, Marsha! May you continue to rest in peace.

Self-Expression & Self-Reflection

Trauma can be extremely difficult to shoulder and can have very taxing impacts on your future–but there is always time to overcome them. There is no wrong answer when it comes to processing your trauma and moving forward, and the processes of both self-reflection and self-expression can aid you in your work while providing simple, attainable goals. No matter what you’re holding onto in life, practicing healthy and consistent self-expression can help you stand back on your own two feet once again.

Resource List
A comprehensive list of the resources found in this blog post—in order of appearance.

• “988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.” U.S. National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

• “The Role of Art in Mental Health.” Trauma Counseling Center of Los Angeles.

• “Writing Can Help Us Heal from Trauma.” Harvard Business Review.

• “How Creativity Can Help Trauma.” CPTSD Foundation.

• “The Power of Self Reflection: How to Foster Personal Growth.” Everyday Speech.

• “Unveiling Strength: Self Expressions in the Journey of Personal Struggles.” WGBB Radio.