From Pain to Purpose

Trauma is a terrible, distressing experience that overwhelms a person’s ability to cope. It can result from experiencing or witnessing events like accidents, abuse, loss, or violence. People may struggle with feelings of fear, sadness, or anger long after the event has passed.

Trauma can impact us mind, body, and spirit. It often leads to feelings of stress, fear, anger, or depression. It can also affect our relationships with ourselves and others. These immediate symptoms, if help and healing isn’t sought, can lead to long-term mental health problems. However, they can also lead to immense personal growth if the person is capable and willing to journey through the process.

PTSD is a mental health condition where people are continuing to experience a range of trauma symptoms long after the traumatic event took place. These can include:

• Frequent disturbing memories

• Sudden bursts of anger

• Feeling either overly alert or emotionally numb

• Constantly feeling on guard, anxious, negative, or depressed

• Easily startled or on edge

• Pulling away from friends, family, interests, or passions

• Avoiding people, places, or situations that could trigger memories

• Aggressive or risky behavior

• Feeling detached from oneself

• A sense of the world feeling unreal

• Trouble focusing

• Intense, unsettling dreams

Healing from trauma takes time and the willingness to face painful thoughts and feelings as you learn new coping techniques. Healing modalities might include: therapy, psychiatric care, support groups, prayer/meditation, reading/learning, and self-care practices.

Post-Traumatic Growth is the way in which our struggles lead us to profound personal development. Think of PTG has the positive that comes out of the negative. This can include, but is certainly not limited to: an increased appreciation for life, shifted priorities, new passions/interests, a greater sense of connection with and compassion for others, more radical acceptance, a stronger belief in you ability to handle difficulties while simultaneously feeling more secure asking for and receiving help from others when needed.

Want to see if you have developed post-traumatic growth? Take this inventory and complete your own score.