April 23 - PTG Pondering in These Foolish Things

I want to write a lot more about Post Traumatic Growth (I first posted about it here) and why it is not a thing here in the United States?

Our fellow PBer, [sudare], who is Japanese, living in Japan tells me that it is a well-known concept there because they have so many earthquakes causing trauma in the lives of the people there.

But why do you think this is not something that we promote here in the US? I hate to say it, but I wonder if Big Pharma has something to do with it? Or Big Alcohol? Ha. Did I just coin a term?

Because see, PTG can actually be a parallel path when one is experiencing PTSD or distress of some sort. It is the positive that comes out of something horrendous, and it happens naturally as your life after whatever trauma you’ve experienced moves through its phases. It’s the GOOD that you see. The LOVE OF LIFE that you experience. It’s the SECOND CHANCE!

And you may still be experiencing a whole lot of grief and pain throughout this process of moving through life after a traumatic experience, but that’s part of the growth.

Of course, your natural instinct is to stop whatever’s hurting - or at least to blunt that feeling and that’s where Big Pharma and Big Alcohol step in. Of course, they numb and they blunt, so how can growth happen there?

So we don’t talk about it here…or at least we haven’t heard of it yet? WHY is this such a huge revelation to me, even after going through therapy? I feel like this is something important that we should be learning about after a traumatic event.

And granted, I understand that during a traumatic event and in the immediate after, you are taking care of things in the only way you can/know how. I do believe there is a place for medication during the trauma. Hell, I just got a refill of my valium prescription for my upcoming CT scans and whatnot. I know it takes time to even begin to distance yourself from the feeling of immediate danger.

But it’s the days, months and years after where this growth becomes noticeable. Or at least it should. And where is the discussion and the guidance? Where are the groups and the celebrations of our growth? Is it a BAD thing to feel so amazing about getting through a horrible experience?

Is it selfish?

I don’t think so. I think that one of the main positives is that feeling that you want to pass this growth on to those around you or to society in general, so the thing is – why aren’t we hearing more about this and how we can make this world a better place with our growth?

I guess in that respect the idea is just to go out and do things. But I feel like there could somehow be MORE!

So much more to ponder, but I gotta start the day - this glorious day that I’ve been given!

(…maybe that’s it? Maybe that people talking about their growth is annoying? Hahah!)

Love!
GS