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

[BlueBay]

@Former-Member I'm sorry Suzanne I think i need to go.  just getting a bit teary, it's getting too much for me right now. I'm sorry.

[Bubbles3]

sorry but im lost and cant keep up. whats PTG

[Former-Member]

@BlueBay I'm drowning here too. 

We can sit together if you want, read the posts ad they drift by .... 

[Former-Member]

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@Former-Member wrote:
I think in lots of ways its important for us to know and value our subjective analysis of what we each feel or believe to be the post traumatic growth that we have, as that is more useful to our individual recovery... even if positive points of growth or change is attributable to many sources (age and learning, therapy and developing our narrative etc..) Just acknowledging that there are positives and growth is probably powerful...

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This is it in a nutshell.  Thank you @Former-Member.

[Former-Member]

Hi @healthyhealing and welcome! It seems your post hasn't come through - if you are needing any help with posting please email team@saneforums.org 

[Mazarita]

Just joined you, @Former-Member, @Former-Member and everyone. Had no email notification, despite being tagged. In fact I had no notifications at all for hours. Now suddenly my inbox is full. No matter, I'm caught up on the discussion now anyway and find it very interesting.

I am another not fond of the saying 'whatever doesn't k-ill you only makes you stronger'. I've often thought, in my own experience, 'but it can cripple you'.

On the other end of the spectrum, I speculate that growth in general can apply to any kind of suffering in a way, whether it be mental illness in a broader sense, physical illness, many kinds of life events and conditions. Suffering does seem to lead to empathy in many cases, though not all, of course.

Aside from empathy for the suffering of others, I think too our own suffering can lead to a more philosophical outlook on life. Instead of wondering 'what could I have been?', I tend to ponder more about how mysterious life is, how unpredictable, how more interesting because of that. How it is a journey. In that sense, I think I may have grown from my own illnesses, mental and physical, in a way that could be described as spiritual.

[Adge]

That's a very good point @Former-Member

My psychologist once asked how I would have been in terms of sexuality, if I hadn't gone through those abuse experiences.

In other words, "In what way (or how) has it shaped me"?

I had to reply that I have no way of knowing how I would have been otherwise, without those childhood abuse experiences.

Adge

[Shaz51]

Hugs @Former-Member, @BlueBay 

[healthyhealing]

Hello and thanks but just pressed the wrong button, just catching up.

[Former-Member]

Sorry to hear that @BlueBay.  It was great to have you here.  I'm sorry that it's touched on some painful things.  If you only take away one thing, may it could be that post-traumatic growth is likely to be in your future.  The stats are on your side.  Even though you can't see it now, one day you may well look back and see how these painful events shaped you in positive ways, not just negative ones.  That's what I hope for you anyway.  But in your own time and at your own pace.