There is a lot of literature available on the Internet and through other resources dealing with the whole concept of post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD. PTSD looks at the consequences of trauma and tries to diagnose and identify and develop some appropriate treatment strategies for this condition. This literature needs to be followed carefully and there are many very good resources.  This is an extremely important part of any recovery process.

However, I wonder if we need to look more closely at the whole arena of post-traumatic growth (PTG).  While I do not mean to diminish any of the major issues and tragedies and continuing tragedies that are apparent in people struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder, I also want to develop resources in such a way that people can see the light of post-traumatic growth, PTG. PTG in this line of thinking refers to the point at which the person possesses the capacity and skills to engage in productive activities that begin to move the person away from the experience of the trauma as the major daily life experience. PTG can include things like developing alternative strategies for coping with daily living necessities and actually doing some planning, where possible, considering all the local realities, beyond the next meal or beyond the next space of a few hours or a few days. Can we do a better job of helping people to see that even in the midst of chaos, positive choices that could have more positive long term consequences can be made, and that life does not have to necessarily have a fatalistic or exclusively victimhood bent.  I think we can.  Expect to hear more from me about this in the future.