When Trauma Leads to Personal Growth & a Deeper Sense of Meaning in Life

Most of us have heard of PTSD, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and understand the profound impact that PTSD can have on one’s life.

A more recent and lesser-known term related to the experience of enduring trauma is PTG or Post-traumatic Growth.

I always make sure to tell clients who come to see me for trauma recovery about this term because it’s a really important thing for people in trauma recovery to understand, and here’s why: PTG focuses on the strength, resilience, and growth that can come from healing from trauma.

The term PTG was coined by the University of North Carolina, and through research that they’ve conducted (and that several others have conducted since), it’s come to light that individuals who’ve gone through trauma can often come through the other side of it stronger and more resilient than before. The five main areas of Posttraumatic Growth that have been identified include:

1)      A new sense of opportunities in life

2)      Increased quality of relationships with others

3)      An increased sense of one’s strength

4)      Increased gratitude

5)      Deepening of spiritual beliefs or practices

It’s important to note that traumatic events obviously aren’t good, and the hope is that you never have to face a major traumatic event or loss. Also, not everybody who goes through trauma experiences PTG, but many who get the help they need to recover do.

For those who do end up going through trauma that feels overwhelming, the concept of PTG can provide hope, inspiration, and a light at the end of the tunnel of their healing journey. 

Many who do the work of trauma recovery emerge from the other side of it as superheroes in their own stories.