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Research shows that after trauma, not only can we bounce back—we can bounce forward. This is called post-traumatic growth, and it's more common than we might think.
COVID-19 left many of us navigating a new normal. Millions of people around the world have experienced a significant loss of someone or something important to them. Many people are feeling anxious, experiencing burnout, or grieving a sense of normalcy. But research shows that stress and growth can co-exist—and in fact, we can grow from some of the most difficult experiences of our lives. In this moment, we might experience post-traumatic growth.
Even as we’ve struggled, we’ve grown. Throughout the pandemic, communities and individuals have mobilized to support each other. Businesses have adapted nearly overnight. Caregivers have become remote-learning teachers. Community fridges and other forms of mutual aid have supported some of the most vulnerable.
As we've endured the pandemic together, we've experienced post-traumatic growth collectively. We're opening up about our struggles with new people and with a new sense of honesty. We're placing more value on our relationships with those we've been separated from. These shifts have gone beyond individuals and communities—they suggest the possibility of a more empathetic culture.
Post-traumatic growth is often subtle, and it can be hard to see, especially when you're suffering. COVID-19 is still very much a real threat to communities across the world, and many of us might still be in the thick of it. But understanding how post traumatic growth might show up for you can help you embrace it as you continue to grow.
Bouncing forward looks different for everyone, but it often takes one of five main forms. Read on to learn what they are and explore practical tips to embrace post-traumatic growth.
Read more in our USA Today op-edGoing through a traumatic event can provide you with a new perspective and increased internal resolve that help you face future challenges. Things that might have felt like insurmountable barriers in the past may no longer intimidate you so much, because you've proven to yourself that you can make it through worse. This can look like not “sweating the small stuff,” or simply gaining confidence in your ability to take on challenges.
After losing someone or something you care about deeply, you may find that you have a much deeper appreciation for things you used to take for granted. This might show up as savoring people, things, or moments that you might not have noticed otherwise, or expressing what you’re grateful for on a more regular basis.
During hardship, it’s not uncommon to strengthen existing relationships or forge new ones. When you go through challenges with others or face the same struggles as them, it can strengthen your bond. You learn to trust each other, be vulnerable, and depend on each other.
Many trauma survivors find greater meaning in life by connecting to a stronger sense of purpose. They are driven by the idea that their life has significance. Meaning might show up for you in spirituality, work, or relationships with loved ones. You may find purpose in helping others overcome the adversity that they have faced themselves.
After trauma, researchers found that some people ended up choosing directions for their lives that they never would have considered before. Although it can be extremely difficult to see, the loss of one possible self can free you to imagine a new possible self. Living an Option B can give you a boost to make choices that would have seemed impossible or intimidating before.