Nearly half of those who experience a traumatic event report that they grew as a result. There are 5 main ways that people grow as a result of trauma. Relationships that promote growth and the ability to come to terms with your pain increase the likelihood of post-traumatic growth. Post-traumatic growth (PTG) are positive changes experienced as a result of coping with a serious life crisis or traumatic event. PTG is not the same as sustainability. Resilience is the ability to move on in life, the ability to persist. PTG is more than surviving; it describes how people can be changed by painful encounters, sometimes in radically positive ways. Many scientists believe that PTG is the result of profound shifts in our thinking that lead to personality changes. Facing actual or threatened death, serious injury, sexual assault, or witnessing violence are life-altering experiences that can throw us out of our habitual ways of living, thinking, and behaving. After trauma, we may be forced to change the way we view the world. The assumptions we once held are being shattered. Therefore, we create new narratives about ourselves and the world around us. As a result of this shock to our mind and body, there is the potential for radical changes in values, life goals, and ways of relating to others. 5 Areas of Post-Traumatic Growth Tedeschi and Calhoun, the most influential researchers in PTG, found five ways in which people report significant growth after a traumatic event: Appreciation of lifeRelationship to othersNew opportunitiesPersonal strengthSpiritual changeThose who value life more learn to enjoy little things like a child's smile or enjoy the day with minimal pain. Others report significant growth in relationships with important people in their lives. They develop closer, more intimate and meaningful relationships as a result of experiencing greater empathy and compassion for themselves and those with whom they share life. Others report awakening to new possibilities in life. They no longer take life for granted and realize that they can make new and important choices; they may choose a radically different direction in their lives, change careers and leave unhealthy relationships. Many report an increased appreciation of their personal power. They learn not to worry about little things. Things that used to cause stress are more likely to go away on their own. They often remind themselves, “If I can get through this, I can get through anything.” There may also be spiritual and existential development as a result of the traumatic experience. People with religious beliefs can deepen their faith. Those who identify as spiritual may find that they have a growing sense of connection to themselves and the world. Who experiences more post-traumatic growth? In a review of 26 studies, researchers found that nearly half of people who experience a traumatic event report experiencing PTG. In a review of 19 studies, researchers found that people who met criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were more likely to experience PTG than those who experienced a traumatic event but did not meet a PTSD diagnosis. Researchers have found that women tend to experience PTH more often than men, and a study of 1,013 female sexual assault survivors found that women of color experience significantly more PTH than white women. This is thought to be due to women's greater tendency to rely on family support than men, and women of color to rely more on their religious faith than white women. That women are more likely to outgrow trauma is not surprising. Women tend to be more committed to relationships than men, and we know that loneliness reduces the likelihood that a trauma survivor will experience PTG. Social