From Surviving to Thriving: Helping Kids Refill Their Joy Tanks After Major Change

It’s not an easy thing to shift from a mindset of safety and survival back to a mindset of living and thriving.

Still, it’s possible. These challenges may even give way to a generation of resilient kids who are stronger, happier, and healthier because of how they’ve learned to cope with difficulty.

“The most common outcome of trauma is not post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It’s growth,” says William Stixrud, PhD, a professor of psychiatry and pediatrics and author of “The Self-Driven Child.”

“It’s very possible that we’re going to see a generation of kids who went through a very tough time, a very scary time, a very isolating time, and yet grew stronger from it.”

To get there, it’s essential that children feel heard.