Post-Traumatic Stress and Post-Traumatic Growth
Why Capacity Before, During and After Crisis Matters
We’ve all heard about post-traumatic stress disorder, particularly after a disaster.
We talk about the trauma.
The flashbacks.
The exhaustion.
The emotional rollercoaster.
And rightly so.
Disasters leave scars, visible and invisible.
Research shows that after major disasters, somewhere between 20 and 40 percent of people may experience significant post-traumatic stress symptoms depending on their level of exposure, loss and support. Rates often peak in the first three to six months. For some, those symptoms persist.
That is real.
That is serious.
And it deserves attention.
But there is another part of the story that doesn’t get enough airtime.
Post-traumatic growth.
Not toxic positivity.
Not pretending everything is fine.
Not silver linings wrapped around heartbreak.
But real, measurable psychological growth that can occur after trauma.
Large international studies have found that more than half of people report moderate to high levels of post-traumatic growth following traumatic events.
Read that again.
More than half.
That doesn’t mean trauma was easy.
It doesn’t mean people would choose it.
It doesn’t mean stress disappears.
It means that alongside distress, something else can develop.
And in my world, that “something else” has everything to do with capacity.
Before Crisis – Building the Soil for Growth
Growth does not start after the fire.
It starts long before it.
Capacity Before Crisis is not a catchy phrase. It’s human infrastructure.
Before disaster strikes, capacity looks like:
• Strong relationships
• Families who talk openly
• Mates who check in
• Communities that gather
• Workplaces that normalise wellbeing
• Conversations about mental health that aren’t awkward
When people are connected before crisis, they are less isolated during crisis.
And connection is one of the strongest protective factors we have.
If we already know how to have hard conversations, if we understand stress responses, if asking for help doesn’t feel like weakness, then when pressure hits, the foundation holds.
Without that foundation, trauma lands harder.
With it, people still struggle, but they don’t struggle alone.
That is the first step toward post-traumatic growth.
During Crisis – Protecting What Matters
During a disaster, adrenaline takes over.
Communities rally.
Neighbours show up.
People do things they never thought they were capable of.
It is powerful.
It is inspiring.
But it is also exhausting.
Because sustained output without recovery erodes capacity.
During crisis, capacity looks like:
• People being allowed to rest
• Honest conversations about how hard it actually is
• Practical help alongside emotional support
• Clear information instead of rumours
• Recognising that not everyone copes the same way
Here’s the reality many people don’t understand:
You can experience post-traumatic stress and post-traumatic growth at the same time.
You can be rebuilding your house while still shaking at night.
You can feel grateful for support while grieving deeply.
You can look strong on the outside and feel completely spent on the inside.
Growth does not cancel stress.
They coexist.
And when we protect capacity during crisis, by resting, sharing the load, speaking honestly, we create space for growth later.
After Crisis – Where Growth Has a Chance
When the smoke clears or the water recedes, people assume things should be “back to normal.”
But recovery is not linear.
Research consistently shows trauma responses can spike months after the event. Paperwork. Insurance battles. Anniversaries. Financial pressure. Relationship strain. Delays. Fatigue.
This is often when support drops off.
This is where post-traumatic stress can linger.
But this is also where post-traumatic growth can quietly begin.
Post-traumatic growth often shows up in five key areas:
• Deeper relationships
• Greater appreciation of life
• Increased personal strength
• New possibilities or new directions
• Shifts in values or perspective
Not because the trauma was good.
But because the struggle forced reflection, reprioritisation and adaptation.
After crisis, capacity looks like:
• Ongoing check-ins long after headlines fade
• Community spaces that stay open
• Continued conversations about mental health
• Giving people permission to still not be okay
• Systems that reduce stress instead of adding to it
Growth does not thrive in chaos.
It thrives in support.
If people feel isolated, growth struggles.
If people feel heard, growth has a chance.
The Bigger Picture
We cannot prevent every disaster.
But we can influence what surrounds it.
We influence whether it’s safe to speak up.
We influence whether rest is respected.
We influence whether asking for help is normal.
We influence whether recovery is rushed or respected.
Post-traumatic growth is not something we demand from people.
It is not something we force.
It is something that becomes possible when people feel supported long enough to rebuild not just their homes, but themselves.
Capacity Before Crisis is about building strong humans before pressure hits.
Capacity During Crisis is about protecting those humans when pressure is on.
Capacity After Crisis is about supporting them long enough for something new to grow.
Not everyone will experience post-traumatic growth.
And that’s okay.
Some seasons are simply about survival.
But if we want stronger communities and healthier people, we need to understand this:
Growth is not random.
It is relational.
It is supported.
It is built.
We need to stop treating recovery like a finish line and start treating it like long-term care for human capacity.
Because when we build capacity intentionally, we don’t just reduce harm.
We increase the possibility of growth.
And that’s a conversation worth having.