Posttraumatic growth
Posttraumatic growth refers to the positive psychological changes that can occur as individuals process and cope with traumatic experiences. While traditionally associated with the negative impacts of trauma, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, recent research has explored how people may emerge from adversity with enhanced emotional, mental, and spiritual resilience. This phenomenon has been notably studied among American soldiers returning from combat, patients facing severe illnesses, and individuals dealing with loss or violence.
Key areas of growth identified include a heightened appreciation for life, deeper relationships, increased spirituality, broader life perspectives, and greater personal resilience. It’s important to note that growth is not guaranteed for everyone who experiences trauma; rather, it arises as part of a complex and often painful journey towards understanding one's new reality. The research emphasizes that the development of coping strategies is crucial, and meaningful growth is generally not observed following less severe stressors. Despite some skepticism within the academic community regarding the measurement of spiritual growth, posttraumatic growth is recognized as an important and evolving area of study in trauma recovery.
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Posttraumatic growth
Although virtually every religion and philosophical system posits the possibility of emotional growth from the experience of suffering and the unexpected massive interruption of a settled life plan, in the early twenty-first century psychologists and academics have begun to gather hard data on the positive aspect of trauma—how individuals grow emotionally, mentally, and spiritually in the difficult process of coming to terms with life-changing experiences. Although most comprehensively applied to the experiences of American soldiers returning often from multiple tours of duty with not only significant physical injuries but also emotional trauma, post-traumatic growth has also been studied with patients responding to catastrophic illness or terminal diagnoses; people working through the death of a spouse; victims of emotional, sexual, or physical abuse; and those recovering from a range of intrusive events, including violent crime, accidents, and catastrophic weather.
Overview
After the Vietnam War, data was gathered on the negative impact of trauma, described as post-traumatic stress disorder, in which patients experienced deep-rooted anger, depression, alcohol or drug dependency, employment problems, and the inability to adjust to civilian life. In the late 1980s, however, researchers began investigating how the same traumatic events had, in fact, also led to sustained positive growth, often in the same person; they described how in the wake of great emotional stress, these people responded with emotional growth aided by a network of support from friends, family, and professional counselors, as well as by their willingness to confide in that network, to open up to the healing agency of community action. Growth was not a direct or universal result of trauma—researchers were quick to point out that their findings were not to suggest that suffering trauma was somehow good—but rather occurred as part of some individuals’ often agonizing struggle to make sense of their new reality. Careful research, particularly in the wake of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, the shootings at both Columbine and Sandy Hook, and the long-term impact of American military operations in the Middle East, defined areas where traumatized individuals experienced positive change: (1) a growth in the appreciation of living, the clarity and grace of living moment to moment; (2) a deeper sense of relationships and a greater involvement with intimacy and trust; (3) a striking embrace of spirituality, a willingness to connect with greater powers, whether manifested in institutional religions or pursued through more individual regimens; (4) a wider perception of life goals, a recognition of multiple paths to satisfaction, and a willingness to experiment with life planning; and (5) a greater faith in individual strength and personal resilience.
Research indicates that such optimism is hard-earned and involves developing strategies of coping to manage the stress following any traumatic event; researchers are also quick to point out that significant growth does not necessarily follow from minor experiences such as a bad job situation, a divorce, dysfunctional relationships, or manageable illnesses. Although many academics are leery about data intended to measure spiritual “growth” and caution that data might be confused with people who simply convince themselves that their lives are better, post-traumatic growth has emerged as a promising, if controversial, field in trauma management.
Bibliography
Blanchard, Geral. Transcending Trauma: Post-Traumatic Growth Following Physical, Sexual, and Emotional Abuse. New York: Safer Society, 2013. Print.
Calhoun, Lawrence G. Facilitating Post-Traumatic Growth: A Clinician’s Guide. New York: Routledge, 1999. Print.
Cori, Jasmin Lee, and Robert Scaer. Healing from Trauma: A Survivor’s Guide to Understanding Your Symptoms and Reclaiming Your Life. Cambridge: Da Capo, 2009. Print.
Joseph, Stephen. What Doesn’t Kill Us: The New Psychology of Post-Traumatic Growth. New York: Basic, 2011. Print.
Tedeschi, Richard G., Crystal L. Parks, and Lawrence G. Calhoun. Post-Traumatic Growth: Positive Change in the Aftermath of Crisis. New York: Routledge, 1998. Print.
Weiss, Tzipi, and Ron Burger. Post-Traumatic Growth and Competent Practice: Lessons Learned from around the Globe. Hoboken: Wiley, 2010. Print.
Werdel, Mary Beth, and Robert J. Wicks. Primer on Post-Traumatic Growth: An Introduction and Guide. Hoboken: Wiley Digital, 2012. Print.