Perhaps one of the most important parts of this episode is how Laurie explains you can, and should, be there for someone going through trauma and grief. It’s not always about being there when they’re going through it and then leaving, but about sticking around and supporting them through the long haul. Our loved ones who need help will still need help 6 months and more down the road, too.
We talk about the other gifts and how you should take each of them into consideration when you’re experiencing and supporting through trauma. We also note that there is a difference between post-traumatic growth and post-traumatic stress disorder…. And bring up the many different experiences that can bring these mental health problems into being.
How do you help support your friends and family who are experiencing trauma? Do you apply the five gifts to your life circumstances? When have you witnessed a tragedy bring out the best of humanity?
In This Episode:
How witnessing the horrors of war caused Laurie to examine different careers
What it’s like to experience your house flooding from a hurricane
How tragedy can bring out the best in humanity
What the five gifts are and how they came to Dr. Laurie Nadel
How you can apply humility to your tragic situations and experiences
What having humility can help us connect to
How you can be there for other people who are experiencing grief
What post-traumatic growth is and how it is related to post-traumatic stress disorder
How extreme weather events can have an impact on mental health
How long you should wait before connecting with a friend experiencing grief
Quotes:
“Healing very often takes 3-5 years and people stop wanting to help after 2-3 months. They want you to be over it.” (11:15)
“Nobody gets a free pass from suffering. Money doesn’t buy you the free pass from suffering. Tragic loss can happen, and does happen, to people on the planet every single day.” (16:10)
“Patience is the gift that allows us to accept that we are where we are. And it’s okay. The heart has its own timetable for healing.” (19:08)
To listen to the podcast click below.