post traumatic growth syndrome

We've all heard of PTSD. But have you heard of PTGS?

A few weeks ago, my friend Kim told me about the phenomenon of Post Traumatic Growth Syndrome. 

Coined by Richard Tedeschi and Lawrence Calhoun, who defined PTGS as “the positive psychological change that is experienced as a result of the struggle with highly challenging life circumstances.”

In my, less elegant, words, it's the meaning you make out of traumatic life events and the growth you experience afterwards.

Sometimes, life shakes you to your very foundation. Hits you with something you didn't see coming. 

When this happens, you have two choices: 

1) Accept the change, allow it to deepen your understanding of life & yourself, and rebuild in accordance with your newfound truth & values. 

2) Refuse to accept the change. Pretend EVERYTHING IS FINE. (My foundation did NOT crumble, my house is NOT leaning to the left now, NO that's not my front door that no longer opens…you're drunk!). 

(I don't know about that house metaphor, but I'm keeping it.)

The point is, not everyone gets to be diagnosed with PTGS.

Research shows* the people who experience PTGS are the ones who are willing to turn toward the pain and face it. Not the ones who avoid the pain or pretend they can go back to how things used to be.

No one hopes for a traumatic life event. No one deserves one. But there are gifts in our grief. 

You can uncover a truer version of you. You can feel the strength of your resilience. You can expand your spirituality. Your relationships may feel deeper and more genuine. You have an opportunity to question who you were before and who you want to be now.

If you're like me, you might chop off all your hair, change careers, become a cat person, and move to a new town. 

Or, you might just sink into a truer, more connected, more peaceful version of you. 

If you find yourself in this place and want to grow from your loss, come see me because coaching can help. Coaching helps you move through your pain, rediscover your true nature, and rebuild your life in a way that feels right to you.

For anyone who has been through it and come out better on the other side, I officially (armchair) diagnosis you with PTGS. 

Love, 

Jessica 

*just trust me