Post-traumatic growth is not about returning to or recreating the life you had before trauma; rather, it describes the perspective shifts and choices for positive change that often come in the aftermath of significant trauma. Being steeped in the field of resilience myself, the field of post-traumatic growth overlaps and explores not only what helps people get through life’s difficulties, but what helps them thrive as a result of challenge.
Trauma can be simply described as an experience that overwhelms our capacity to cope, so it is no surprise that much of trauma work involves calling in supports that increase one’s capacity to cope with the stress of the trauma. Whether or not we have these aspects of life in place prior to trauma, they can help us to recover, make meaning, and create positive experiences that, while not changing the traumatic situation, give a sense of meaning and purpose to life as it continues on.
Here are five aspects of post traumatic growth to reflect on:
http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/these-5-domains-of-posttraumatic-growth-can-help-you-thrive-0611155