Our bodies have built-in systems to fight against threats to our health. This is one of those things that most of us are taught in school and refer to in casual conversation (especially during cold and flu season!). But how often do we talk about our psychological immunity? We all have an innate ability to withstand assaults on our mental health – whether this comes in the form of stress, a difficult relationship, an over-committed schedule, a toxic workplace, the death of a loved one, etc. But just like our body’s immune system, our psychological immunity may be more or less effective depending on external and internal factors.
One of the factors of psychological immunity is resilience.
Resilience is our ability to withstand and bounce back after a period of adversity. It does not mean that we do not feel distress during difficult times (because that is normal and natural), but instead that we have the skills and resources to recover from them. The skills associated with resilience can be both built and strengthened by anyone.
According to the American Psychological Association, these five factors play a big role in resilience:
- Caring and supportive relationships (within and outside the family) that create love and trust provide role models, and offer encouragement and reassurance.
- The capacity to make realistic plans and take steps to carry them out.
- A positive view of yourself and confidence in your strengths and abilities.
- Skills in communication and problem solving.
- The capacity to manage strong feelings and impulses.
Are there any areas of resilience you feel you would benefit from boosting? Start with recognizing the skills you already possess in the area (even if it’s something very small). Look at building on that foundation. From there, practice new skills and celebrate small victories.
I hope you have found this useful. If you find yourself struggling or are looking for more personalized support, it may be worth investing in a counselling appointment to talk about how these skills can be strengthened in your life.