For years the standard belief has held that once traumatized, most people will need serious help to recover. Sure, there are those who seem to survive traumatic events unscathed, but they were always considered “highly resilient” people with extraordinary abilities at handling stress and crisis. Often categorized as outliers, they were seen as unique, like people with 140+ IQs or child musical prodigies.
But now there’s a new concept emerging that proposes the idea that promotes the idea of growth through trauma. In post traumatic growth, individuals are still overwhelmed by an event or series of events. They still have moments of profound crisis mixed with pain and fear. They still face all the issues those who suffer PTSD suffer. The difference is that, for some reason, they strive to recover. They work to resolve the issues and reestablish their lives.
What I’ve found most interesting about this concept is the changes these individuals experience due to their efforts. For those who achieve post traumatic growth they:
For those of you versed in 12 step programs, that sounds an awful lot like some of the Promises. It seems these benefits are universal for those grow through a life and death struggle.
Anyone who has faced trauma in their lives, who knows those feelings of helplessness and pain, would do well to read up on this concept. It doesn’t negate the need for help. It doesn’t mean it won’t be a painful trip. But it does mean that change can be achieved and hope may be restored in ways we never imagined.
John
*Source Posttraumatic Growth Research Group, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
But now there’s a new concept emerging that proposes the idea that promotes the idea of growth through trauma. In post traumatic growth, individuals are still overwhelmed by an event or series of events. They still have moments of profound crisis mixed with pain and fear. They still face all the issues those who suffer PTSD suffer. The difference is that, for some reason, they strive to recover. They work to resolve the issues and reestablish their lives.
What I’ve found most interesting about this concept is the changes these individuals experience due to their efforts. For those who achieve post traumatic growth they:
- develop a sense that new opportunities have emerged from the struggle
- experience closer relationships with some specific people, and they can also experience an increased sense of connection to others who suffer
- have an increased sense of one’s own strength
- develop a greater appreciation for life in general
- gain a deeper spiritual life that can also involve a significant change in one’s belief system*
For those of you versed in 12 step programs, that sounds an awful lot like some of the Promises. It seems these benefits are universal for those grow through a life and death struggle.
Anyone who has faced trauma in their lives, who knows those feelings of helplessness and pain, would do well to read up on this concept. It doesn’t negate the need for help. It doesn’t mean it won’t be a painful trip. But it does mean that change can be achieved and hope may be restored in ways we never imagined.
John
*Source Posttraumatic Growth Research Group, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
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