Post-Traumatic Growth and the Hero’s Journey
The Hero's Journey is a narrative framework that describes the common pattern found in many myths, stories, and legends. It was popularized by mythologist Joseph Campbell, who identified a recurring sequence of events and stages that heroes typically experience in their transformative journeys. While the Hero's Journey was originally applied to mythology and storytelling, it has also been adapted to understand personal transformation and growth, including the process of post-traumatic growth.
Post-traumatic growth refers to positive psychological changes that can occur in individuals following the experience of a traumatic event. Despite the immense challenges and suffering associated with trauma, some individuals are able to find meaning, develop new perspectives, and experience personal growth as a result of their traumatic experiences. Here's how the Hero's Journey can be related to post-traumatic growth:
The Call to Adventure: In the Hero's Journey, the hero is often called to embark on a challenging and transformative journey. Similarly, traumatic events can serve as a powerful catalyst for change, forcing individuals to confront adversity and embark on a journey of healing and growth.
The Threshold: The hero typically crosses a threshold from the known world into the unknown, leaving their comfort zone. Similarly, traumatic events can disrupt one's familiar reality, pushing individuals into unfamiliar and challenging territories.
Trials and Challenges: Along the hero's journey, they face numerous trials, challenges, and obstacles that test their strength, resilience, and character. Similarly, individuals on a path of post-traumatic growth encounter difficulties, emotional distress, and setbacks that require them to develop new coping strategies, resilience, and adaptability.
Transformation and Revelation: In the Hero's Journey, the hero undergoes a transformation, often experiencing profound insights, self-discovery, and personal growth. Similarly, post-traumatic growth involves individuals gaining new perspectives, deeper self-awareness, and reevaluating their values, priorities, and purpose in life.
Return and Integration: After the hero's journey, they return to their ordinary world, returning to the lessons and wisdom gained from their transformative experiences. Similarly, individuals who undergo post-traumatic growth reintegrate into their lives, often sharing their newfound insights, strengths, and resilience with others and contributing to their communities or causes they care about.
It is important to note that not everyone who experiences trauma will undergo post-traumatic growth, nor should anyone be expected to or pressured to alchemise their experience in any way; feeling undeserving of such horror and all other complex emotions around trauma is valid and should be honoured without shame. Trauma is a deeply individual experience, and individuals respond to it in various ways. Post-traumatic growth is a complex and multifaceted process that can occur alongside the challenges of trauma recovery. It is influenced by various factors, including support systems, available coping strategies, and the meaning-making processes individuals engage in following trauma.
While the Hero's Journey provides a useful framework to understand personal growth and transformation, it is essential to approach post-traumatic growth with sensitivity and respect for the unique experiences of trauma survivors. Professional support, such as therapy, can play a crucial role in facilitating post-traumatic growth by providing a safe and supportive space for individuals to explore their experiences, process emotions, and develop resilience and coping strategies.