We’ve all heard of post-traumatic stress. But what about post-traumatic growth?
Have you ever gone through something incredibly difficult, and noticed that, on the other side, you were a different person, stronger in certain ways, more sure of yourself, more able to ask for support, softer, or more boundaried?
A concept from positive psychology, post-traumatic growth is one of my favorite aspects of being a therapist—I am able to witness and explore the incredible resiliency of people who have experienced trauma: people who, yes, experience pain and confusion, but who also find within their pain a doorway that opens them more to life and to their own innate strengths.
![What Is Post-Traumatic Growth?](https://somaticspiritualcounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/536766f7142748959b63d12af5587ede.jpg)
Trauma can often feel like it’s breaking us apart. It is important to honor the breaking and the pain. It is crucial to find support for post-traumatic stress. Without glossing over the difficulties of trauma, we can also appreciate that with the right conditions, human systems can come back together with a greater sense of cohesion, authenticity, and compassion than we had previously.
Below is a list of 26 indicators of post-traumatic growth.* See if you recognize yourself in any of the statements.
Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory
a. I have gained clarity around my priorities and what is important in life.
b. I appreciate the value of my own life.
c. I have developed new interests.
d. I feel more healthy self-reliance.
e. I am more open to spiritual realities.
f. I know I can count on people in times of trouble.
g. I established a new path for my life.
h. I have a greater sense of closeness with others.
i. I developed a willingness to express my emotions.
j. I know I can handle life’s difficulties; I have built resilience and grit.
k. I yearn to use my life well.
l. I developed a greater capacity for acceptance.
m. I am able to appreciate each day.
n. New opportunities are available, which wouldn’t have been otherwise.
o. I have compassion for others.
p. I put more effort into my relationships.
q. I’m more likely to try to change things that need changing.
r. I have a stronger sense of faith.
s. I discovered that I am stronger than I thought I was.
t. I learned a great deal about how wonderful people are.
u. I accept needing others.
v. I am more able to be with the unknown or ambiguous.
w. My heart feels more open.
x. I have lost some of my old rigidity.
y. I have developed a sense of bravery in looking at and being with the uncomfortable parts of myself, others, and the world.
z. I have a zeal to help others find healing and freedom.
I would love to hear about your experience with post-traumatic growth in the comments below. If you’d like support feeling into your journey with trauma, please reach out to me.
* The first 21 of these qualities are adapted from Tedeschi RG & Calhoun LG, The posttraumatic growth inventory: measuring the positive legacy of trauma. Journal of Traumatic Stress (1996; 9: 455-471).
Learn more about our approach to trauma.
——————————————————————————————————–