Trauma Thinking Warm-Up

Instructions: Take a moment to think about the phrase "thinking styles" in relation to challenging experiences or trauma. Without overthinking, write down 2-3 words or a short phrase that comes to mind.

Trauma & Your Thoughts Script

Slide 1: Trauma & Your Thoughts: Unpacking the Mind

"Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Today, we're going to dive into a really fascinating and important topic: how our minds process and react to challenging or traumatic experiences. Our lesson is called 'Trauma & Your Thoughts: Unpacking the Mind.'"

"Have you ever noticed how different people react to similar situations in very different ways? Or how sometimes, after a really tough experience, your own thoughts might feel a bit... stuck? That's what we'll be exploring today."

"Our goal is to understand some common thinking patterns that can emerge after trauma, not to diagnose anyone, but to build a foundation of empathy and self-awareness. This knowledge isn't just for future professionals; it's for all of us, to better understand ourselves and the people around us."

"To kick things off, let's start with a quick Trauma Thinking Warm-Up. Please take a moment to reflect on the prompt and jot down your initial thoughts."

Slide 2: What are 'Trauma Thinking Styles'?

"Alright, let's bring our attention back. Thank you for sharing your initial thoughts on the warm-up. Now, what exactly do we mean by 'trauma thinking styles'?"

"These are essentially automatic, recurring patterns in how our minds process information, especially after experiencing a traumatic event. It's like your brain develops a specific 'mode' of operation to try and make sense of, or protect itself from, what happened."

"Crucially, these styles often develop as survival mechanisms. In the moment of trauma, your brain is doing everything it can to keep you safe. These thinking patterns are often a legacy of that adaptive response. It's super important to remember: these are responses, not personal flaws or weaknesses. They are deeply ingrained psychological reactions."

"These patterns can profoundly impact our emotions, our behaviors, and even our relationships. They're like lenses through which we view the world, and sometimes, those lenses can become distorted."

"Think of it like a shortcut your brain takes. A shortcut that might have been necessary at one point, but might not be serving you well anymore."

Slide 3: Style 1: Catastrophizing - The 'Worst Case Scenario' Mindset

"Let's jump into our first specific thinking style: Catastrophizing. Has anyone heard this term before? What does it sound like?"

"Catastrophizing is the belief that if something bad can happen, it will, and not only that, but it will be absolutely unbearable. It's the 'worst case scenario' mindset taken to an extreme."

"For example, imagine someone who has been in a minor car accident. Every time they get into a car afterwards, they might constantly imagine being in another, much more severe crash. Their mind races, picturing all the terrible possibilities."

"The impact of this thinking style can be significant: heightened anxiety, avoidance of situations that trigger these thoughts, and difficulty making plans for the future because they're always anticipating disaster."

"Why might a brain start doing this? From an evolutionary perspective, always being prepared for the worst could have been a survival advantage. But in modern life, it can become incredibly draining."

Slide 4: Style 2: Overgeneralization - The 'Always/Never' Trap

"Our second style is Overgeneralization. This is when we take a single negative event or experience and extrapolate it into a never-ending, universal pattern. It's the 'always' and 'never' trap."

"Here's an example: you receive a low grade on one test. Instead of seeing it as one particular test, your mind might jump to, 'I'm always going to fail every test. I'm just not smart enough for college.' Or, 'I'll never succeed in this major.'"

"The impact? Low self-esteem, feelings of hopelessness, and a fear of trying new things because you already 'know' how they'll turn out. It can really limit our potential."

"Where do you see this in daily life? Think about small disappointments – do you ever catch yourself saying 'This always happens to me' or 'I can never get this right'? That's a hint of overgeneralization."

Slide 5: Style 3: Personalization - 'It's All My Fault'

"The third style we'll explore today is Personalization. This is the tendency to believe that you are directly responsible for negative external events, even when you have little to no actual control over them."

"Let's say you're working on a group project, and the project doesn't go well, perhaps the team missed a deadline or the final presentation wasn't polished. Someone prone to personalization might immediately think, 'It's all my fault. I should have done more. I let everyone down,' even if other team members were equally involved or external factors were at play."

"The impact of personalization includes intense guilt, shame, excessive self-blame, and it can make it really difficult to collaborate with others or to forgive yourself for perceived shortcomings."

"How does this differ from simply taking responsibility for your actions? It's about taking excessive blame, attributing external events to internal failings, even when it's not logically sound."

Slide 6: Reflect & Connect: What's Next?

"We've covered a lot today, so let's recap our key takeaways. First, trauma can indeed shape our thinking in very predictable ways. These aren't random thoughts; they often fall into patterns."

"Second, remember that these thinking styles are often survival mechanisms. They emerged for a reason, even if they're not currently serving us well."

"And most importantly, awareness is the first crucial step towards understanding these patterns and finding healthier ways to cope. Just knowing what they are can give you power over them."

"Now, I want to hear from you. We'll do a quick Understanding Trauma Thinking Discussion and then move to our cool-down.

"Think about these questions: How can understanding these styles help you or others in your life? And what's one thing, big or small, that you'll remember from our discussion today?"

"Let's transition into our cool-down activity now, Reflecting on Thinking Styles Cool-Down."

Understanding Trauma Thinking Discussion

Instructions: In small groups or as a class, discuss the following questions, drawing on what you learned today:

1. Out of the three thinking styles we discussed (Catastrophizing, Overgeneralization, Personalization), which one resonated with you the most, or which have you observed in others (without naming individuals)? Why do you think this style develops?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Why is it important to understand that these thinking styles are often survival mechanisms rather than personal flaws?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Beyond just identifying these patterns, what might be a very first step someone could take if they recognize one of these thinking styles in themselves or a loved one? (Think about simple, actionable steps.)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Reflecting on Thinking Styles Cool-Down

Instructions: Please answer the following questions honestly and concisely. Your responses will help solidify your learning.

1. Name one specific thinking style related to trauma that we discussed today.
   
   
   
   

2. In your own words, briefly explain why recognizing these thinking styles is beneficial for personal understanding or for interacting with others.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. What is one question you still have, or one aspect you'd like to explore further, regarding trauma and thinking patterns?