Healing in Two Languages: Biology and Becoming

Abstract

Healing in Two Languages: Biology and Becoming explores post-traumatic growth (PTG) as both a biological and deeply human process. While PTG is often studied in cancer survivors, this article broadens the conversation to include invisible injuries shaped by emotional trauma and psychological stress. Drawing from a systematic review by Liu et al. (2020) and personal reflection, it highlights how healing unfolds in both the body and the mind through neuroplasticity, therapy, and meaning-making.

The paper suggests that the same mechanisms supporting recovery from physical illness also guide the rebuilding of trust, safety, and self after emotional harm. Healing is presented not as a return to one’s former self, but as a quiet evolution toward becoming whole again. By bridging science and empathy, this work calls for a more holistic understanding of recovery; one that honors resilience as both biological adaptation and an act of becoming.