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Post-traumatic Growth

What is post-traumatic growth?

  1. Research has shown that post traumatic growth does occur, but researchers are careful to remind us that growth comes from the struggle to cope with the trauma, not from the event its self.
  2. Trauma is not necessary for growth and researchers do not suggest that traumatic events in themselves or suffering are in any way good. They are only the positive effects of coping with trauma. 
  3. Post-traumatic growth describes the positive changes people experience after struggling with a major life crisis or traumatic event.
  4. Post-traumatic growth is common but not universal. Just because people show personal growth in adversity does not mean they will not suffer. In most cases suffering and growth co-exist.

'But I don’t want anything good to come from what I experienced.'

Personal experience

Post-traumatic growth

The term post-traumatic growth can be considered to be quite contentious. Being faced with the idea that anything positive can come from a major life crisis or traumatic event can be very difficult, and the possibility can provoke strong reactions of anger, denial and rejection. Being able to understand and accept the possibility of post-traumatic growth can be a way to help you to recognise your strengths and your resilience and to claim them as your own. 

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Trauma does change people. Recovery is possible but it is unlikely that you will recover as though it had never happened. Accepting this is an important part of recovery. Then there is the possibility of post-traumatic growth.rnu003colu003ern tu003cliu003eHow do you feel about this concept of post-traumatic growth?u003c/liu003ernu003c/olu003e

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Further reading: You may want to read ‘Man’s Search for Meaning’ which is a 1946 book by Viktor Frankl recounting his experiences as an Auschwitz concentration camp prisoner during World War II, and describing his psychotherapeutic method, which involved identifying a purpose in life to feel positively about, and then imagining that outcome.