Overcoming Adversity: Explanation, Real-Life Instances, and Pathway to Achieving It
Post-traumatic growth (PTG) is a natural human capacity to make meaning, heal, and learn from hardship. This concept, first introduced by Richard Tedeschi, PhD, and Lawrence Calhoun, PhD in the 1990s, suggests that it's possible to find growth and positive change even after experiencing a traumatic event.
According to research, joining a support group with other trauma survivors who "get" what you're going through can be helpful in accelerating post-traumatic growth. This social interaction can provide a sense of understanding and empathy that is essential in the healing process.
Working with a therapist can also play a significant role in emotionally processing grief and other feelings related to a traumatic event. Derwin K.K. Nunes III, a certified substance abuse counselor on the big island of Hawaii, emphasises this point, stating that therapy can help a person who has experienced trauma cope with PTSD symptoms, anxiety, or depression, which are all crucial for experiencing growth after a traumatic event.
Therapy can also be a means to help achieve post-traumatic growth. It can help individuals understand and process their emotions, develop new coping strategies, and gain a deeper understanding of themselves. This self-awareness can lead to increased personal strength, greater appreciation for life, spiritual growth, altered belief systems, or motivation to help others.
Acknowledging the trauma as traumatic and restoring a sense of safety and security are important factors in achieving PTG. The timeline for processing trauma and experiencing PTG varies for everyone, and it's important to remember that everyone processes trauma in their own way. It's okay if PTG isn't immediately apparent.
Education on trauma can help uncover another layer of awareness to help navigate your own trauma recovery process. Useful books for learning about trauma include "Trauma & Recovery" by Judith Lewis Herman, MD, "The Body Keeps the Score" by Bessel van der Kolk, MD, and "What Happened to You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing" by Bruce D. Perry, MD, PhD, and Oprah Winfrey.
Some organisations that offer support for trauma survivors include After Silence, Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), C-PTSD Foundation, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), and the National Department for Veterans Affairs.
While the pandemic has impacted many people, for some, post-traumatic growth is already taking effect, although it is still in the early stages of being studied. Some people are using the experience of the pandemic to develop new skills, friendships, and access deeper and more enriching aspects of life.
In conclusion, post-traumatic growth is a powerful concept that offers hope and encouragement for those who have experienced trauma. By seeking support, understanding, and self-awareness, it's possible to find growth and healing even in the most challenging of circumstances.
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