Short Wave Why Do Some Hurricane Survivors Thrive After Disaster?
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Sep 29, 2025 
Rhitu Chatterjee, NPR’s mental health correspondent, dives into the surprising concept of post-traumatic growth following disasters like Hurricane Katrina. She shares research insights revealing that many survivors, despite experiencing PTSD, report significant personal growth and resilience over time. The discussion highlights the importance of financial stability and social support in recovery. Personal stories, including that of Nunok Pham, illustrate how helping others can amplify one's own healing, akin to the art of Kintsugi, where beauty is found in the mended cracks of life.
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Resilience Unfolds Over Years
- Researchers followed thousands of Hurricane Katrina survivors for over a decade and documented long-term patterns in recovery.
- Longitudinal data revealed resilience can take many years to stabilize for disaster survivors.
Growth Can Follow Severe Trauma
- Post-traumatic growth describes positive psychological change following severe stress or trauma.
- Survivors may report growth even while acknowledging the original event was terrible.
Teenager Became Community Support
- Nunok Pham described how Katrina forced her to become the paperwork and tech helper for her immigrant community.
- That responsibility made her grow up quickly and later shaped her research into post-traumatic growth.
