10 Signs You’re Experiencing Post Traumatic Growth
Here at Reclaim Therapy, we know healing is a deeply personal, nonlinear journey. Growth doesn’t erase the pain, but it can rise alongside it.
Post traumatic growth definition:
Post traumatic growth (PTG) describes the changes people may experience through the process of grappling with and healing from trauma.
It’s not about finding a silver lining or forcing positivity—it’s about noticing, when you’re ready, how you may be changing in ways that feel meaningful.
Originally coined by psychologists Richard Tedeschi and Lawrence Calhoun, post-traumatic growth offers a hopeful lens on the healing process.
We want to emphasize this: PTG is not the goal of healing.
You don’t have to find growth to be “healed” or “successful.” And growth doesn’t mean you’ll never struggle again. It simply reflects the ways trauma may sometimes reshape us in surprising, even beautiful ways.
Here are 10 examples of post traumatic growth- while holding the nuance that your journey is yours, and there’s no right way to heal.
1. You’re Starting to Notice an Inner Strength
There may have been moments when you thought, I won’t make it through this. But here you are. You’ve made it.
This certainly doesn’t mean every day is easy or that you feel strong all the time. It simply means you’ve started to notice a quiet resilience, a sense that you’ve endured something incredibly difficult and are still moving forward in your own way.
The reminder: Strength doesn’t mean invincibility, or that you need to hold it all together. It means showing up for yourself, even when it’s hard.
2. You’re Craving Deeper, More Authentic Connections
Maybe you’ve let go of relationships that no longer feel safe or fulfilling. Or you’ve started to gravitate toward people who see you—really see you. Trauma can shift the way we approach connection, making us seek authenticity, safety, and depth over surface-level interactions.
The nuance: You’re learning to trust at your own pace, and that’s enough.
3. Small Moments Feel More Precious
You might find yourself cherishing the little things: the warmth of sunlight, laughter with a friend, or the comfort of a quiet moment. Trauma can sharpen our awareness of life’s fragility, and growth may show up as a deeper appreciation for what’s here now.
Why it matters: This isn’t about toxic positivity. It’s about letting joy exist alongside everything else.
4. You’re Open to New Possibilities
Sometimes, trauma makes us reimagine what life can look like. Maybe you’ve picked up a new hobby, considered a career change, or stepped into relationships in new ways. It’s not about erasing the past, it’s about exploring what feels meaningful now.
A note: Change is scary. Being open to it, even a tiny, little bit, is growth.
5. You’re Reflecting on Your Values and What Matters Most
Post-traumatic growth often sparks deep reflection.
You may ask yourself: What do I care about? What do I want my life to look like? This process can bring clarity about your values, priorities, and the kind of life you want to build, even if it looks different than before.
The truth: You don’t have to have it all figured out. Reflection alone is a powerful step.
6. You’re Offering Yourself More Compassion
Healing isn’t linear, and some days feel harder than others. But maybe you’ve started speaking to yourself with a little more gentleness, treating yourself like you would a loved one. Self-compassion doesn’t mean ignoring pain, it means seeing it and honoring it without judgment.
The shift: You don’t have to be perfect to deserve kindness, especially from yourself.
7. You’re Advocating for Your Needs and Setting Boundaries
Healing often brings clarity about what you need to feel safe, respected, and cared for. You may find yourself setting boundaries at home, at work, or in relationships. This can feel uncomfortable at first, but it’s a sign of growth when you start to prioritize your own well-being.
The empowerment: Your needs are valid, and you’re allowed to protect your peace.
8. You’re Letting Go of What No Longer Serves You
Letting go is a process. It might look like releasing old beliefs, habits, or relationships that keep you stuck. This doesn’t mean forgetting the past or forcing forgiveness. It simply means creating space for something different.
The nuance: Letting go isn’t a one-time act. It happens slowly, in your own time.
9. You’re Learning to Navigate Uncertainty
Trauma can make the world feel unpredictable and unsafe. Growth sometimes looks like learning to tolerate uncertainty—trusting that you can handle what comes next, even if you don’t have all the answers.
The reality: You don’t have to feel confident all the time to know you’re capable.
10. You’re Finding Purpose in Your Experience
For some, growth shows up as a desire to help others—to share your story, offer support, or show up with compassion. This doesn’t mean your pain happened for a reason. It simply means you’re choosing to create meaning from it.
The gift: Your story matters. Your healing can ripple outward in ways you may not even see.
The 5 Stages of Post-Traumatic Growth
PTG doesn’t happen all at once, and it doesn’t look the same for everyone. Tedeschi and Calhoun describe PTG unfolding in stages. Here’s Reclaim’s spin on their original 5 stages:
Struggle: Experiencing the pain and disorientation that trauma brings.
Survival: Focusing on stability and coping day by day.
Reflection: Beginning to make meaning of what happened and how it’s impacted you.
Rebuilding: Taking small steps to align your life with your values and needs.
Transformation: Noticing new perspectives, strengths, and a sense of possibility arising from your experience.
A gentle reminder: You don’t need to move through these stages in order, and it’s okay to revisit them as you grow.
Growth and Pain Can Coexist
We want to be super clear about post-traumatic growth. Growth doesn’t mean the pain disappears. It means you’re allowing both pain and possibility to exist at the same time. If you don’t see yourself in these signs yet, that’s okay. Your recovery from trauma is as valid as anyone else’s, no matter where you are.
Wherever you are on this journey, we’re here to walk alongside you- to witness your strength, your struggles, and your growth.
One small step at a time, you are reclaiming yourself, your life.
And that’s something worth not only honoring, but celebrating.
🧡,
Reclaim Therapy provides trauma therapy, therapy for complex PTSD and EMDR Therapy in Horsham, PA and online in Pennsylvania.
Our team of therapists are passionate about supporting people to heal from their past experiences so that they can live life free from the impact of traumatic experiences. We want you to know that healing is possible, growth is possible, and that you are deserving of a life filled with connection, trust, spaciousness, safety and choice.
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