In the recent years with the number of returning veterans
you may have heard about Posttraumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD. Among the symptoms are: high anxiety, feeling
constantly fearful, nightmares, intrusive thoughts and flashbacks. Events that could bring on PTSD include any
situation in which life and safety is lost or threatened. The more frightened and helpless you feel
often the more likely to feel traumatized.
Some examples of emotional or physical events that can cause
psychological trauma are: accidents and falls, sudden death of someone close,
breakup of a significant relationship, humiliating or deeply disappointing
experience, abuse, seeing someone die, being threatened with death, combat, and
rape.
Not everyone who experiences trauma will experience
life-impairing symptoms great enough to reach a diagnosis of PTSD. How some people recover or even thrive in the
aftermath of a trauma has been increasingly studied. Studies show that acute stress symptoms are
very commonly experienced immediately after extreme trauma situations. One of the first studies, published in 1980,
looked at POWs during Vietnam War.
Sixty-one percent said they had benefited psychologically from their
time in captivity. Studies like these influenced
the work of Richard Tedeschi, a psychologist at the University of North
Carolina, Charlotte, who has termed the phrased “Post –Traumatic Growth” to
describe the resilience and recovery from trauma. Studies of Post –Traumatic Growth have found
positive individual changes in five areas:
- Turning suffering into meaningful action – such as helping others with a similar illness or standing up for other victims
- Developing deeper relationships and greater compassion for others
- Feeling strengthened to meet future challenges
- Reordered priorities for fuller appreciation of life
- Deepening spirituality.
Tedeschi explains that “Only a seismic event—not just
an upsetting experience—can lead to this kind of growth.” Tedeschi is referring to the kind of event
that “shakes you to the core and causes you to question your assumptions about
yourself and the world.” Tragic
events can awaken us to what really matters in life and inspire us to redefine
our identity, to reorder our priorities, and to take initiative in caring
actions to benefit others.
How Do We Go On In
the Aftermath of Traumatic Loss?
You can bounce back from tough times in life and yes-even
trauma. In his well-known book, Man’s Search for Meaning, Holocaust
Survivor Viktor Frankl wrote about how he and other survivors went on with
life. Frankl found the key to be not searching
for happiness, but finding a reason to be happy despite the suffering.
It’s important to know that distress is typical when we face
traumatic events. Even those who are
able to find reasons to be happy despite suffering does not mean they did not
suffer. Tedeschi is careful to point out
that he is in no way implying that traumatic events are good and that Post
–Traumatic Growth is not universal.
Many people need to work through natural responses to trauma like guilt,
shame and blame. Counseling and
Psychotherapy can help someone work through negative emotions and help
individuals, groups, and organizations in the recovery process.
