What is post traumatic growth?

Post-traumatic growth (PTG) is the process of positive psychological change that can occur after someone goes through a major life crisis, trauma, or highly stressful event. It’s not just about “bouncing back” — it’s about growing in new directions because of what was experienced.

Researchers Richard Tedeschi and Lawrence Calhoun, who coined the term in the 1990s, found that many people reported meaningful personal development after events like serious illness, loss, or violence. PTG usually shows up in five areas:

  1. Deeper appreciation of life — small things start to matter more.

  2. Improved relationships — greater empathy, compassion, or closeness with others.

  3. New possibilities — seeing new paths or purposes in life.

  4. Personal strength — realizing you can handle more than you once thought.

  5. Spiritual change — new or renewed faith, or a shift in existential perspective.

It’s important to note: PTG doesn’t erase the pain or trauma. Growth and distress often coexist. But over time, some people find that the struggle itself opens them to transformation, resilience, and meaning they hadn’t known before.

Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published