Topic Tuesday // PTSD & Post Traumatic Growth // Tues 20 Feb, 7pm AEDT

[Zoe7]

totally agree @Former-Member

[Former-Member]

Ah, @Former-Member, that last post of yours helps me understand it more. Thank you.

over the past 10 or so years I have found my ptsd has regrown exponentially (probably due to more abuses being revealed) and what I can see as growth, others see as more negative outcomes.

Can it be PTG if one becomes cynical and removes oneself from all those causes of hurt and harm - including people? 

[Adge]

Yes that makes sense @Former-Member "Mutual Growth"?

Adge

[Shaz51]

This also made me think of the forums.  When you're in here witnessing the pain of others, and standing alongside them, you're helping your own growth as well as the growth of your fellow members. --- very true @Former-Member

I have never talked about my mental ( verbally abused ) when i was young and the constant rejection from my father until 10 years ago until i came on to the forum and I cried

[Former-Member]

Hi @Former-Member, glad you joined our discussion 

Yes, I reckon that empathy is one of the low-hanging fruits in the world of PTG.  Not that empathy is easy in itself.  It really isn't.  But you're right that it's kind of expected that you can better relate to others with similar traumatic experiences.  And maybe even develop more compassion or even wisdom.  

I wouldn't think it's automatic though.  I think there's still work to do to get there from the immense shock and pain of trauma.

Is this an area of growth you relate to?

[Former-Member]

Please, may I ask, how is experiencing the pain of others, as happens here in the forums when we help others through their situations, help us to grow ourselves? 

I think I might be missing something.... 

[CheerBear]

From my experience @BlueBay, the stories we tell about ourselves (which so often come from the stories we hear or see others tell about us or the stories we are asked/conditioned to tell about ourselves) make a huge difference.

I love the idea of "mutual growth" @Adge. I think it's a great one to apply to trauma that has occurred in an interpersonal context 🙂

[Phoenix_Rising]

Pssssst @CheerBear you super help me grow. 

[Former-Member]

Yes @Former-Member I worked in the services for a time and also in later life in the caring and support services and apparently my empathy and acceptance of them is what clients appreciated the most. 

being empathic can push me over the edge during my own embattled times too. 

[Former-Member]

Hey @Former-Member, I was relating providing support here in the forums, through acknowledging the pain of others and walking alongside them for a while within the discussions, back to the research around helping and post-traumatic growth.  Those that are the most , or helpful towards others, are more likely to report benefits.

Does that make sense?