We use stories to inform others, connect over shared experiences, say when we feel pain, and sort out our thoughts and feelings. Stories organise our thoughts, help us find meaning and purpose, and establish our identity in a confusing and sometimes lonely world.
Stories help people to understand what is happening in their lives, what has happened, how it has happened, and what it all means. In this way, stories provide opportunities for more meaningful life and relationships. When people distance themselves from their traumatic experiences, they become aware of how to make a better future. By creating this distance, people find the opportunity for a more meaningful life.