Post Traumtic Growth

It is part of the human experience to feel extreme distress when faced with trauma, difficult losses or great suffering. The idea, though, that these highly difficult life experiences can lead to personal positive growth is recently receiving more attention. Recent research has focused on this ability to grow from trials and has labelled this -Post Traumatic Growth. 

This idea is not new and once again, research is merely proving things we have already learned in the gospel!! Throughout history and in the scriptures we see many examples of people who valiantly overcame struggles and grew from their trials. That said,  growth resulting from trauma is not universal. Everybody who faces crisis's doesn't experience growth, but the idea that we can turn trauma into a greater purpose and even lead others to healing-is exciting.

I do not want to imply, that trauma is good or even that those who experience growth do not suffer. 

R. Tedeshi and L. Calhoon, say that Postraumatic growth occurs during our attempts to adapt to highly negative sets of circumstances such as major life crisis. 

"Growth does not occur as a direct result of trauma, rather it is the individual's struggle with the new reality in the aftermath of trauma that is crucial in determining the extent to which posttraumatic growth occurs."

Posttraumatic growth is not simply a return to baseline  after a period of suffering; instead it is an experience of improvement beyond the previous baseline. 

They found a number of predictive factors associated with this ability to grow- following trauma. 

1. spirituality. 
2. social support. 
3. the opportunity to emotionally disclose trauma

(Tedeshi, R.G., & Calhoun, L.G. (2004). Posttraumatic Growth: Conceptual Foundation and Empirical Evidence. Philadelphia, PA: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.)

Posttraumatic growth tends to occur in five general areas. 

1. Sometimes people who must face major life crises develop a sense that new opportunities have emerged from the struggle, opening up possibilities that were not present before.
2. Some experience a change in relationships with others. They experience closer relationships with some specific people, and may also experience an increased sense of connection to others who suffer.
3. Other's experience an increased sense of one’s own strength 
4. Some people gain a greater appreciation for life in general. 
5. Others experience a deepening of their spiritual lives, which may even involve a significant change in their belief system.

For more literature and research on this topic, please refer to 
http://ptgi.uncc.edu/what-is-ptg/ 

So when you hear people say they are grateful for their trials, I don't think they are saying they enjoyed the experience or would even want to go through it again. Instead, they recognize the change and growth they experienced as a result.