The Valley Hospital is now open at 4 Valley Health Plaza in Paramus. (You may need to use 650 Winters Avenue for GPS.) All emergency care is now being provided at this location. Emergency care is no longer available at our Ridgewood campus.
“Trauma is a fact of life. It does not, however, have to be a life sentence.”
Peter A. Levine, “Waking the Tiger”
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause havoc and uncertainty across the country and world. Those of us in healthcare have especially been affected and even traumatized by this virus and the damage it has caused. Many have expressed symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, which include insomnia, problems with focus, irritability, and anxiety. However, not everyone experiences traumatic events in the same way, and there are many different reactions to this recent stressful event.
One such reaction is termed post-traumatic growth (PTG), which refers to a positive change experienced because of a struggle with a major life crisis or traumatic event. Psychologists Robert Tedeschi and Lawrence Calhoun describe PTG as a “positive psychological change in the wake of struggling with highly challenging circumstances.” In other words, PTG occurs when a traumatic experience leads to positive change, not just making the best of a bad situation.
PTG can help define our character and clarify our purpose on Earth. For example, someone who survives a physical assault may go on to become a police officer to protect others, or a person who works in healthcare in a non-clinical position may want to become a nurse following a healthcare crisis such as COVID-19. PTG may be likened to Kintsugi, the centuries-old Japanese art of fixing cracked pottery. Rather than hide the cracks of the rejoined broken pieces, the art involves repairing the pottery using gold and silver lacquer, which often makes the final product even more beautiful than the original.
Anyone can experience PTG. Someone who is aware of what PTG is may be more likely to grow through trauma, as is someone who has a tendency to be open to such a concept. An individual who is willing to sit with an emotional experience rather than avoiding such discomfort may also experience growth because of trauma. PTG helps individuals process the implications of a difficult experience, then assists that person in seeing the opportunity due to the trauma, which can result in personal evolvement.
As a result of post-traumatic growth, one may experience:
It is inevitable that one will suffer in life, but the hope is that trials will lead to deep growth.
