Your Keys to Achieving Post-Traumatic Growth

Have you faced severe pain or adversity in the past? Or, are you currently dealing with significant challenges? Could it be chronic physical pain, psychological crisis, or cancer? You are not alone.

Post-traumatic growth is the basic idea that some people grow due to trauma. They come out the other side of a painful experience, not just okay, but better. Stronger. Deeper.

In my life, I have struggled with chronic low back pain for many years. I underwent surgical treatment a few years ago in search of a solution. Instead, what I expected to be a good fix brought me untold distress. In addition, I suffered surgical complications, which worsened my situation.

The current COVID Pandemic has caused accelerated economic hardship and breakdown of relationships. In addition, COVID has resulted in a huge psychological toll on many of the world’s population. But, unfortunately, it has also affected our ability to live our lives the way we could in the past.

All people — all lives — are either in a crisis, coming out of a crisis, or headed for a crisis. Andy Andrews

Differences between pain, suffering and trauma

Pain is what happens to us, such as the death of a loved one; suffering is what we make (or don’t make) of our pain. The result of suffering is trauma, a kind of deep emotional wound we carry in our bodies.

What is growth?

Growth is our adaptive response to pain. When we’re under stress, we adapt to cope with the stress by becoming more robust. The stressful situation may be physical pain, mental anxiety, or emotional tension.

Unfortunately, stress always involves a certain level of pain and suffering.

Also, we often don’t get to choose when or where stress enters our world. The simple truth is that we cannot avoid pain and suffering altogether. But, we can manage it better by the things we do and how we process it. Yet, so much of it has to do with our response and the quality of our relationships.

Yet, too much stress can cause trauma to our bodies and souls. Too much suffering can also steal our joy and dampen our hope for a better future.

Post-traumatic growth inventory

This concept is an effort by researchers to measure the positive legacy of trauma in the following five areas:

• Appreciation of life
• Relationships with others
• New possibilities in life
• Personal strength
• Spiritual change

How to achieve post-traumatic growth

1. Accept the inevitable

Accepting one’s challenges is the very first step toward coping with our distress. Stop complaining or asking, “why me?” Don’t be too harsh on yourself, but show self-compassion. Also, develop empathy for the sufferings of others. Finally, applying a touch of humour to your difficult situation once in a while may be helpful.

2. Do not condemn yourself to passivity

Get to action. Take small steps toward personal improvement. Seek ways to push on despite the considerable drag. For example, you could integrate any of the following into your morning or daily routines:

• Engage in gentle physical exercise after getting clearance from your health practitioner. Good examples are outdoor activities such as brisk walking.
• Meditation, if you are not very depressed. Prayer if you are so inclined.
• Eat healthy meals high in vegetables and fruits.
• Engage in activities that you enjoy with people who uplift you.

3. Avoid isolating yourself

Loneliness is not great when you are dealing with severe pain or suffering. So, be open to interacting with others. But, be sure to stay away from people with negative influences.

Seek the help and emotional support you need from your family and friends. Social support is the most crucial factor for recovery from adversities. Also, keep up with any consultation appointment with your health practitioners.

4. Cultivate cheerful optimism and a growth mindset

As long as you are not dead, trust in the hope -no matter how slight- that your situation will turn around for the better. So be willing to persevere to the very end.

Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end. John Lennon

5. Search for the silver lining in your situation

What is there to learn from your present adversity? What can you teach others from your experience?

To Recap

Growth is our adaptive response to pain. When we’re under stress, we adapt to cope with the stress by becoming more robust. The stressful situation may be physical pain, mental anxiety, or emotional tension. Post-traumatic growth is the basic idea that some people grow due to trauma. They come out the other side of a painful experience, not just okay, but better.

You can do the following to increase your chances of achieving post-traumatic growth:

1. Accept the inevitable

2. Do not condemn yourself to passivity

3. Avoid isolating yourself

4. Cultivate cheerful optimism and a growth mindset

5. Search for the silver lining in your situation

What pain or adversity are you facing now?

I would love to hear your thoughts.

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Check out David’s blog at https://davidonu.com

This post was previously published on MEDIUM.COM.

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