Most of us have heard about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Until a recent Elective on Resilience in a Global Pandemic, we had never heard the term post-traumatic growth.

But according to Catherine Sanderson, author and Psychology Professor at Amherst College, adversity can be a really good thing. We grow after adversity. We come out on the other side stronger. 

Adversity enhances small joys - when things are going well, we take the little things for granted. When you are living in a pandemic, small joys become really meaningful. An example from the research: if you give someone three pieces of chocolate they enjoy each piece, but if you give another group of people two pieces of chocolate and then say “this is your last piece,” they savor that third piece and are happier relative to the group that doesn’t know the chocolate is ending!

Adversity builds compassion - think of a tragic event, like the Boston Marathon bombing. So much adversity in a matter of seconds, but strangers were running around helping strangers, showing more compassion than ever. Adversity can lead to unexpected kindness.

Adversity creates resilience - when you were younger, did you ever go on a camping trip in the cold without much food? Often, we are put through adverse experiences and come out stronger. If I survived that, I can do anything! Same thing goes for 2020 :)

To bring this point home, during the class, Catherine asked each employee at the company to calculate their post-traumatic growth score. To do this, Catherine shared a list of 10 items and each person selected which items were applicable. Tally them up and you have your personal pandemic "Growth Score." 

Not surprising, there is quite the range of scores. The most common score is 5 or 6. What's amazing is no one had a 0. Everyone has felt some growth in this adversity filled year.

So remember, adversity never feels good in the moment, but it can be very good for us.

Most of us have heard about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Until a recent Elective on Resilience in a Global Pandemic, we had never heard the term post-traumatic growth.

But according to Catherine Sanderson, author and Psychology Professor at Amherst College, adversity can be a really good thing. We grow after adversity. We come out on the other side stronger. 

Here’s why:

Adversity enhances small joys - when things are going well, we take the little things for granted. When you are living in a pandemic, small joys become really meaningful. An example from the research: if you give someone three pieces of chocolate they enjoy each piece, but if you give another group of people two pieces of chocolate and then say “this is your last piece,” they savor that third piece and are happier relative to the group that doesn’t know the chocolate is ending!

Adversity builds compassion - think of a tragic event, like the Boston Marathon bombing. So much adversity in a matter of seconds, but strangers were running around helping strangers, showing more compassion than ever. Adversity can lead to unexpected kindness.

Adversity creates resilience - when you were younger, did you ever go on a camping trip in the cold without much food? Often, we are put through adverse experiences and come out stronger. If I survived that, I can do anything! Same thing goes for 2020 :)

To bring this point home, during the class, Catherine asked each employee at the company to calculate their post-traumatic growth score. To do this, Catherine shared a list of 10 items and each person selected which items were applicable. Tally them up and you have your personal pandemic "Growth Score." 

Not surprising, there is quite the range of scores. The most common score is 5 or 6. What's amazing is no one had a 0. Everyone has felt some growth in this adversity filled year.

So remember, adversity never feels good in the moment, but it can be very good for us.

 



According to Catherine Sanderson, author and Psychology Professor at Amherst College, adversity can be a really good thing as it enhances small joys, builds compassion, and creates resilience. 

Post-Traumatic...Growth?

Tue Nov 24 2020

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