Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG): Be the Best Version of Yourself

Everyone experiences Trauma or grief and loss during their lifetime. The good news is that these experiences can boost your mental health and bring the best version of you. This phenomenon is known as post­ traumatic growth or PTG.

Post-traumatic growth is a positive psychological change as a result of adverse experiences or trauma to help you reach a higher level of your competence.

For instance, you might find yourself asking questions like," Did I really accomplish that? ", " How was it possible that I was able to survive that?", " How did I even manage to do that impossible thing? ". You'll be shocked at how you were resilient and could accomplish certain things that you never thought you would have one day. 

Trauma can involve many experiences such as the death of a loved one or any type of loss, domestic violence, a major car accident, family violence, childhood bullying, or a chronic illness. Such experiences can result in you experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD, which is a mental health condition. When you find yourself taking the trauma into an opportunity for growth to enhance yourself and your life skills, that is known as post­ traumatic growth or PTG.

It helps to change your perspective on the traumatic event and see it as rather a gift or an opportunity for change and growth.

According to Tedeschi and Calhoun ( 2013), there are five categories of PTG: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/ blog/beyond-resiIience/201309/ternpered­ fi re

• Personal growth: you begin to recognize your new strength.

• Spiritual growth: you begin to see your purpose in life and the meaning behind your existence.

• New possibilities: you begin to see new opportunities that you have never seen before.

• Greater appreciation for life: you begin to feel grateful for every little thing in your life.

• Improved relationships: you begin to relate to others in a new way and start making meaningful relationships.

Perhaps before the trauma, you were living in a world where you were strictly investing in yourself. After the trauma, you began to appreciate yourself even more and connect with and see your impact on others in your community and around the world. You realized that the aftermath has changed you for the better, and that's how you could reach the best version of yourself.