When something goes wrong, do you tend to bounce back or do you have a tendency to fall apart? Resilience is inner strength that helps you rebound from a setback, such as an illness, job loss, a disaster or the death of a loved one. If you lack resilience, you might dwell on problems, feel victimized, become overwhelmed or turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as substance abuse. Resilience won't make your problems go away, but it can give you the ability to see past them and find enjoyment in life and better handle stress. You can develop skills to become more resilient.
Resilience means adapting to adversity Resilience is the the ability to roll with the punches. When stress, adversity or trauma strikes, you still experience anger, grief and pain, but you're able to keep functioning. Resilience isn't about toughing it out, being stoic or going it alone. In fact, being able to reach out to others for support is a key component of being resilient.
Resilience and mental health Resilience offers protection from various mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety. Resilience can also help offset factors that increase the risk of mental health conditions, such as lack of social support, being bullied or previous trauma. If you have an existing mental health condition, being resilient can improve your ability to cope.
Becoming more resilient takes time and practice. If you don’t know where to start — consider talking to a therapist. With guidance, you can improve your resiliency and mental well-being.
"You cannot teach a person anything; you can only help them find it within themselves. "