After Parkland, how grief can become posttraumatic growth for student activists

— -- A group of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students has captivated the nation with their tenacity and eloquence as they advocate for gun reform. This, in the throes of grief.

After many witnessed their friends killed by gunfire, they leaped into action to protest, some even taking a bus from Florida to Washington, D.C.

Their response to trauma is not to shut down, but to speak up.

Psychological trauma is surprisingly common. At least once in their lifetime, most Americans will experience a traumatic event. As defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), that means exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury or sexual violence.

"Most of us who face a cataclysmic, traumatic event may have intrusive recollections, intrusive thoughts, nightmares, and a constellation of negative emotions," said Lawrence Calhoun, Ph.D., professor emeritus in the Department of Psychological Science at UNC Charlotte.

A combination of these symptoms, and others, lasting for at least one month is consistent with PTSD, posttraumatic stress disorder. PTSD is a potentially debilitating condition that affects nearly 7 percent of Americans.

But if trauma is so common, shouldn’t the rate of PTSD be higher?

Not necessarily. People may be more resilient than they realize.

Psychologically speaking, resilience comes from whatever buffers someone from the negative effects of trauma, helping them "bounce back" and successfully adapt when horrible events shake them. Supportive relationships, optimism and good problem-solving skills, among other factors, help people "bend but not break" after traumatizing experiences.

Some people bounce back from trauma, and others can even grow from it.

Posttraumatic growth (PTG) -– a theory developed by Calhoun and Richard Tedeschi, Ph.D., professor of psychology at UNC Charlotte -– explains how people who struggle with the negative effects of trauma can ultimately experience positive growth. They find a way to thrive after stressful events through their ability to appreciate life, see new possibilities, understand personal strengths, form closer relationships and deepen spirituality.

It’s not uncommon for people to turn tragedy into activism –- they don’t want their experience or the loss of loved ones to be in vain. Tedeschi noted that many social movements can be traced to trauma survivors who decided to bring about social change. Mothers Against Drunk Driving was founded by a mother whose child was killed by a drunk driver.

But people need to affect change at their own pace.

Tedeschi said: "Some people very quickly decide, 'I'm going to do something.’ Some people have to go through quite a soul searching for a while."

Deciding to act and achieving change are two separate things.

"Having passion and being on a mission is one thing, but turning it into practical results is dependent on a whole other set of abilities," Tedeschi said. "Trauma does not necessarily inform people of how to do that."

Expecting people to become activists immediately following trauma isn't just unrealistic -- it's harmful. Calhoun emphasized that PTG is "something for most people that unfolds over time."

He cautioned against therapists introducing the topic of posttraumatic growth to people too soon after traumatic events because it puts unnecessary pressure on them.

"I wouldn’t say anything," Calhoun said. "I would listen. One of the mantras we have [is to] listen without necessarily trying to solve."

And, of course, just because some good may eventually come from trauma, doesn’t mean that trauma is good.

"Posttraumatic growth comes at a high price for most people," Calhoun said. "It’s a terrible gift."

Christy Duan, MD, is a psychiatry resident physician at Zucker Hillside Hospital in New York and a resident at the ABC News Medical Unit. Read more of her work at www.christyduan.com. Vasilis K. Pozios, MD, and Praveen R. Kambam, MD, are forensic psychiatrists and founders of Broadcast Thought (www.broadcastthought.com).