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Post-traumatic Growth

Post-traumatic Growth By Jenna Van Slyke, M.S. Naval Center for Combat & Operational Stress Control For centuries, man has pondered what sustains the human spirit in times of extreme adversity. Many ancient traditions speak of the potential for transcending suffering and transforming it into a resource for internal strength and growth. Trauma can be defined as an event that profoundly changes an individual’s fundamental schemas, beliefs, and goals, as well as the ability to manage emotional distress, and it profoundly affects the individual’s life narrative. With more than 2 million men and women having deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan within the last 12 years, rates of military-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnoses have increased over 20 percent. Response to a traumatic event can vary greatly from individual to individual. For many, exposure to highly stressful events can result in significant psychological distress and some may develop psychiatric disorders. During this time, survivors may feel an increased sense of hopelessness, depression and vulnerability. Although traumatic experiences can sometimes result in severe psychological distress, they can also resu

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