Feeling stuck in betrayal trauma? In addition to an online support group specifically for women victims of their husband’s betrayal and emotional abuse, victims can process betrayal trauma with art. Here are three things any victim of betrayal can try.

Why Process My Betrayal Trauma With Art?

Emotional abuse and betrayal victims experience a wide range of painful emotions:

• Grief
• Anger
• Fear
• Terror
• Loneliness
• Numbness
• Sorrow
• Rage

And even more. These feelings can be overwhelming and difficult to bear if victims are not able to express them in healthy ways. Sometimes they get stuck or we don’t know how to define them or even feel them.

Further, abuse victims may replay abusive episodes or traumatic moments in their minds over and over, or they may come out in nightmares.

As victims give these feelings and experiences an outlet through art or other types of physical movement, some are able to begin the journey to healing.

#1 Using Self-Portraiture To Process Betrayal Trauma With Art

Perfectionism is not required as you process your trauma with art. When victims create self-portraits, they are able to express emotions, particularly traumatic moments in time, and even the physical and sexual pain they may have endured.

Your self-portraits do not need to be professional or even good. Many victims enjoy creating self-portraits through:

• Photography (using your phone is just fine!)
• Drawing with pencils and crayons
• Play-doh or clay
• Graphic art

One woman in the Betrayal Trauma Community, Eva, shared, “Even before I understood what was happening, sketching self portraits was sort of like therapy for me.”f

#2 Using Symbolism To Process Betrayal Trauma With Art

Perhaps approaching traumatic memories or intense feelings may feel too overwhelming to tackle head-on.

Instead, victims can use symbolism to process their trauma with art. They can represent the trauma through objects or ideas.

Eva shared, “I was fuming with anger. My husband was supposed to love and cherish me—spoiler alert: he didn’t. That anger needed an outlet, so I took up sketching. Suddenly, everything was on fire: houses, cars, you name it. The flame motif took over my sketches, but hey, it was cheaper than therapy and helped me burn through my frustrations.”

Victims often use things like wedding rings, dirt, blood, or other symbols to convey the depths of their grief and pain.

#3 Using Dreams To Process Betrayal Trauma With Art

Many betrayal trauma victims experience vivid dreams, nightmares, and night terrors during and after abuse.

If you are struggling to express your betrayal trauma through art, try painting, drawing, or collaging your dreams. Anne Blythe, M.Ed. The Founder and Executive Director of Betrayal Trauma Recovery had very vivid dreams while her husband was lying to her.

“In my dreams, he was gone. And I couldn’t find him. I’d wake up every morning and wonder where he went, but he’d be lying right next to me.” She wrote down her dreams, using poems and stories to process her feelings even before she understood what they meant.

When you wake up, jot a few notes about what you dreamt and then use the colors, phrases, and objects that you remember.

BTR.ORG Helps You Process Betrayal Trauma

At Betrayal Trauma Recovery, we understand that trauma can feel like drowning, like being lost in a dangerous place, like being completely isolated. We are here to help you process your trauma and ultimately experience the peace and joy that you deserve.

Victims can attend a Betrayal Trauma Recovery Group Session that meets multiple times daily in every multiple time zones. This support group offers a safe space for victims to talk openly about their feelings, trauma, experiences, and hopes. We’d love to see you in a session TODAY.