Post-Traumatic Growth: How To Make Meaning From Your Toughest Time
Life is full of new experiences, relationships, emotions, unforgettable memories, and busy schedules. But, it can also be full of hardships, pain, and traumatic experiences. What’s important is coming to terms with these difficult situations, and coming out the other side in a positive and optimistic manner.
Going through something traumatic can be a very painful time in your life, and some experiences are hard to move on from, and you may go through a range of emotions, flashbacks and even physical symptoms after something like this happens to you.
However, you can go through this time in your life, and get past it, with a new sense of self and a fresh outlook on the world. This is called post-traumatic growth. This can often happen naturally, or with psychological therapy and other forms of intervention such as education and emotional regulation. So, what exactly is post-traumatic growth?
What Is Post-Traumatic Growth?
Post-traumatic growth or PTG is a concept that we use to describe a positive physiological change after experiencing something highly challenging, stressful, or traumatic in life. In post-traumatic growth, individuals may experience a new, significant shift in a psychological manner, and may start thinking and relating to the world and themselves in a new, more positive way. This is a deeply meaningful type of growth, where you may see the world and yourself in a different way.
Post-traumatic growth is often confused with being resilient.
Whilst being resilient to emotional trauma and other difficulties can be very helpful, it is not the same as post-traumatic growth.
Being resilient is a skill where you are able to bounce back from certain situations, whereas post-traumatic growth is when someone has trouble bouncing back from a painful and traumatic experience that makes them challenge their belief system, and puts them through a psychological struggle or even makes them suffer from mental illnesses.
Then, the person ultimately will feel a sense of personal growth after the trauma, where they go on a journey, and start to see things differently, or seek out a whole new belief system. Post-traumatic growth occurs after the person is rocked to their very core, and experiences such a traumatic event, that it transforms them as a person in a positive way.
Going through such tough times as these can truly make someone spiral out of control, and they may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or even depression. After the effects of the trauma have been processed, they may find a new sense of catharsis, by seeing the world and themselves differently than they did before and taking on a new outlook on life, with a new perspective and appreciation for life. It can give people’s lives much more meaning and understanding after going through such a traumatic experience.
Signs Of Post-Traumatic Growth
There are many signs of post-traumatic growth, with most of them being positive, as it can transform a person and their outlook on life in general. For instance, post-traumatic growth can manifest itself as:
Improved personal strength
Improved self-confidence
A new appreciation of life and experiences
Seeking out new possibilities in life
Improved relationships with others around you
Change in mood, spirits, and beliefs
For most people, post-traumatic growth will occur naturally around 1-2 years after the initial trauma has passed. Once a person has emotionally processed and dealt with the trauma or tragedy, they may naturally try to find new opportunities for growth, change, and maturity.
This is post-traumatic growth, and it can help people move on with their lives with positivity and peace. If you need help working toward this point in your life, please read more about trauma therapy. When you’re ready, call us for a safe and confidential confrontation.