MEDIC MASTERY
August 18, 2020
Read this on the Medic Mastery web site
I. What Drives Post-Traumatic Growth? [Optimizing for Medics]
As discussed in the last email, increasing PTSD awareness among paramedics and first responders is an incredibly important project. Without understanding the causes, the symptoms and the nature of our common humanity, paramedics suffering post traumatic stress can feel incredibly alone in their struggle.
However, the evidence presented in Jim Rendon’s book Upside: The new Science of Post-Traumatic Growth, shows that we also need to be moving forward with the project of increasing Post Traumatic Growth awareness.
Remember: “... just having contact with someone who had grown was one of the biggest factors in predicting post-traumatic growth” (74).
So, what drives post-traumatic growth?
It has a lot to do with narrative.
Everyone carries a narrative: an understanding of the world we live in, how it works, and our own place in it. Psychologists call this our “assumptive self”.
The type of trauma that causes post-traumatic stress tears down that assumptive self. And it is the suffering of losing the worldview that someone has carried for their entire life that causes much of the psychological anguish of post-traumatic stress.
There is the worldview you had before the trauma. Then there is the trauma that tears down that old worldview. And now, where your old worldview used to sit in your consciousness, there is a big, ugly question mark.
At the heart of the process that can result in post-traumatic growth is the ability to abandon our old narrative and to develop a new one. “Survivors must reconstruct their worldview into one that accommodates the new properties embodied by the trauma” (72).
The natural tendency after a trauma may be to suppress it. People may try to avoid thinking about it. That may be a healthy and necessary part of the recovery process, but only for a time.
What psychologists Tedeschi and Calhoun, the pioneers of post-traumatic growth research, say needs to happen instead is a process called...
Deliberate Rumination.
Deliberate rumination is the process of thinking through how the event has impacted you, what it means to you, and how you can live your life going forward.
This is how people rebuild themselves after trauma. It “allows trauma survivors to find new narratives for their lives, new ways of understanding their strengths and possibilities, and more meaningful ways to live” (83).
A simple way to practice deliberate rumination is writing. In particular, writing for yourself (115).
“Waiting for a trauma to fade away can take an awfully long time and lead to lots of problems. By talking or writing about difficult experiences, survivors are forced to translate them into language, which is particularly important for traumatic memories. Life-threatening events activate the amygdala, the brain’s fear center. Those memories are red hot with emotion but can lack language and context. Writing helps survivors to label the experience, attaching language to it that allows survivors to understand and process the event instead of leaving it as some alert adrift in our neural wiring. Once that’s done, people can assign it meaning, some level of coherence, and give the event a structure and place in their lives. Representing the experience with language is a necessary step toward understanding the experience...” (116).
Something as simple as writing for yourself, even if you destroy the writing immediately after, allows you to put words to those “red-hot emotions”. And that proves to be a powerful step in moving forward from suffering to growth.
What to do about deliberate rumination...
Jim Rendon’s book is about Post-Traumatic Growth. But this section of the book makes me wonder about some of the other mental health illnesses common among paramedics and first responders.
What about anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation?
Are those issues also “red-hot emotions” lacking context and language?
Maybe it’s worth it to pick up a journaling habit now, before you are suffering post-traumatic stress.
And, maybe instead of clamming up about work on your days off, it might be a good idea now to find out who is safe to talk with. Let yourself more regularly put some words to emotions in the context of therapy, marriage or a really good friendship.
Given that it is the words that matter most, it wouldn’t be surprising if talking to your pets about your trauma shared at least some of the same benefits!
II. Referrals
If you like the content of this newsletter then one of the best ways to support me is to share it with a friend. It really makes a difference! Please consider forwarding this to a friend or sharing it on social!
P.S. Thanks to those who shared last week. Readership jumped 10%!
III. Coaching
Did you know that I offer coaching? Figuring out fitness, nutrition and healthy habits within the constraints of your reality is my specialty. I’ve been at it for over 16 years. Consider making a short-term (3 month) commitment to getting yourself dialled in with individualized coaching. Reply to the email if you’re interested!
IV. A free month of Optimize
I listen to or read an Optimize +1 every day as part of my morning routine. The compound effect of having this dose of good advice and perspective has been immense. I highly recommend trying it out for yourself! With this link you can get one month free access to Optimize.
V. Disclosure
Links to Amazon and Optimize resources are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
0 comments