Psychology of Media & Technology

As a psychologist, I can tell you that, contrary to any logic, traumatic events such as loss can produce extraordinary personal growth —what we call post-traumatic growth—exactly because it’s so disorienting.  Seeing ghosts in photographs were a pathway to new meaning and dealing with grief for Julie, connecting her with people, ideas, skills and, yes, spirits, she didn’t have before.  Julie’s story is just one journey to post-traumatic growth but what she demonstrates is how a regular person handled her personal trauma and by being open to some really new and, for the skeptics, entertainingly bizarre stuff.  It is inspirational and very funny.  While Julie doesn’t list finding humor in life’s curveballs as a strength, it is certainly one of hers.  Humor triggers the “feel good” neurotransmitters that take the edge of stress, anxiety, improve our mood and even increase our tolerance to physical pain.  Even if you think ghosts are figments of the imagination, you’ll feel better after reading Julie’s book because she’ll make you laugh and even the skeptics among you will probably buy a little sage, just in case.