Complex PTSD vs. PTSD treatment approaches
When we treat trauma, we teach our clients to soothe their nervous systems by grounding themselves in the present moment.
Trauma treatment also helps clients distinguish between realistic fears of a present threat and trauma-induced emotional reactions.
Post-traumatic stress vs. post-traumatic growth
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs in the wake of a threatening event or events that rob us of our agency and our means of escape. When we lack sufficient resources to process those events, we fail to integrate our trauma into our understanding of the world as safe enough, predictable enough, or fair enough.
Looking at trauma in this way, we can appreciate the many ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic and concurrent societal developments have been traumatic, and how people with insufficient internal or external resources will be at risk of developing PTSD as a result.
Less widely known—but equally powerful—is the concept of post-traumatic growth, which was first developed in the mid-1990s by psychologists Richard Tedeschi and Lawrence Calhoun.
It turns out that not everyone who lives through trauma develops PTSD. So, what happens instead?
Research has revealed a rich and transformative encounter with post-traumatic growth in five major domains: relations with others, new possibilities, personal strengths, spirituality, and appreciation of life.
An integral part of post-traumatic growth theory is the idea that transformation occurs not in spite of trauma, but as a direct consequence of it.
In other words, the growth could not have occurred without the trauma—or at least not in the same way at the same moment.
Can we simply choose growth?
For some people, choosing to interpret the COVID-19 pandemic through the lens of post-traumatic growth will allow them to appreciate the little influence they have over things they once thought they needed to control. They’ll deepen their connections with the people they value, and shed the relationships they used to hang onto out of fear or guilt.
Some will deepen their spiritual connection, finding solace in unexpected places. Or they will form a new perspective on injustice in the world, bringing their values and their actions into greater alignment.
But for others, it may still be an immense struggle to accept and make sense of the many losses they continue to experience—the loss of loved ones, the loss of health, of financial security, and worse.
For these people, to focus on post-traumatic growth as a kind of silver lining may land as an invalidation of their experience. This can interrupt their grieving, which is an essential stage in the integration of trauma on the path toward humility, acceptance, gratitude, and freedom.
A dialectical frame of mind
One way to hold space for our disparate experiences is to recognize that seemingly contradictory ideas can be true at the same time.
In doing so, we can help our clients and ourselves remember that the deepest pain from unfathomable loss can coexist with the awe of unexpected blessings—and everything in between.
I would encourage us all to remember that many of our silver linings have occurred not in spite of the pain of the COVID-19 pandemic, but rather because of it—and that much of our collective post-traumatic growth is still to come. If we can do this, we can create space for both the grieving of immense loss and the positive affirmation of change.
I’ve seen first-hand in my practice how impactful staying rooted in this notion of intentional growth can be. It pushes away nothing and clings to nothing, and frees us up to move forward.
I wish the same for you—and for all of us.
How SimplePractice streamlines running your practice
SimplePractice is HIPAA-compliant practice management software with everything you need to run your practice built into the platform—from booking and scheduling to insurance and client billing.
If you’ve been considering switching to an EHR system, SimplePractice empowers you to run a fully paperless practice—so you get more time for the things that matter most to you.
Try SimplePractice free for 30 days. No credit card required.
