Post Traumatic Growth

I’m a trained psychotherapist. I’ve worked with a diverse set of clients in a wide variety of settings. Most of my clients at some point in their lives have experienced trauma. It’s important for me to take this into consideration as I help them find a balanced place in life. Much research in this field speaks to making meaning of the trauma as a way to heal and move through it. I won’t spend time in this blog going into the details of how trauma affects our brains and how making meaning has the potential to heal. Instead, I’ll speak of my own meaning making as I work through the trauma of my cancer diagnosis and treatment.

It’s  short story. I haven’t figured it out yet. That’s ok. I’m still in the fog of cancer treatment and my entire focus has been to endure the side effects. However, I know that any day now, the fog will lift and I will be able to examine what’s been happening to me since December 16th, 2013. I know my task is to look for meaning in this cancer diagnosis in order to help myself heal from the trauma. I’m excited. This has changed me in ways I am not even aware of yet. It’s my hope that I will come out of this a better person. Here’s my wish list:

1. stop taking myself so seriously which will help me …

2. laugh more

3. slow down (I’ve learned to do this not by choice. I want to do this by choice).

4. reset the “perfect” bar

5. get better at “who cares”

6. stop chasing the “success” finish line

7. say “thank you” more

8. say “I love you” more

9. live out loud

So, as the chemotherapy fog lifts, I will have this wonderful opportunity to find/forge/make meaning from this trauma and become a better person.

#cancer #findmeaning #growth #trauma