Post-Traumatic Growth: Transforming Adversity into Strength
Most of us have heard about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or even post-traumatic stress, but few have heard about post-traumatic growth.
Post-traumatic growth refers to the positive psychological changes that can occur as a result of struggling with and overcoming or moving through trauma or adverse experiences. Research in post-traumatic growth suggests that individuals can experience personal growth and positive changes following a traumatic event or series of events. Numerous studies have shown that 50-75% of survivors report significant growth following a traumatic event. Long-term studies have found that these positive gains remain relatively stable once achieved.
A critical point to highlight is that post-traumatic growth does not erase the distress or challenges caused by trauma, but recognizes that individuals can experience growth and positive outcomes alongside the negative effects. The trauma experience may lead to a deeper understanding of oneself, as the individual becomes aware of hidden or untapped strengths that can help them better overcome future challenges.
Therapeutic interventions that focus on nervous system change, meaning-making, and developing resilience all facilitate the process of post-traumatic growth.
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