Resilience: What does it mean in terms of mental health, and why is it important, especially in a crisis?
‘Resilience is defined as the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.’ Up to now, I’ve always thought of resilience as a gift, rather than something acquired over time or something learnt through experience. How quickly my mind as changed in the past few weeks. Especially with the world’s current crisis, concerning the Coronavirus.
According to the WHO website, ‘Mental health is defined as a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, and can cope with the normal stresses of life…’I came across this definition and I believe part of it is so spot-on in relation to resilience and mental health difficulties. It was my struggles with coping with the normal stresses of life that started me out on the quest to understand resilience from the perspective of mental health.
To be honest I feel that most people appear to have more resilience than I do. In particular the people in my social circle and family naturally seem to find it easy to bounce back when faced with the pressures of life. They seem to respond well to stressful situations when I say ‘well’, I mean: like I would have wanted to respond if I didn’t think things through so much.
‘Resilience is not just your ability to bounce back, but also your capacity to adapt in the face of challenging circumstances, whilst maintaining a stable mental wellbeing.’
– Mind
In the current climate, it’s sometimes difficult to stay away from all the clatter and chatter – everyone seems to want to have their input (including myself) about this current situation at hand. Whether we are going to have lock-down, whether we are going to have enough essentials and food to outlast these times. Unpredictability and uncertainty seemed to have plague our society with anxiety, fear and panic. Resilience is therefore essential to stay well, and keep things in perspective.
“Resilience isn’t a personality trait – it’s something that we can all take steps to achieve.”
– Mind
With that in consideration, there are no doubt personality types as influence the way in which we interact with others. But we can make little changes to ‘build our resilience.’ Notice I said ‘build’ not ‘receive’ or ‘inherit.’
(Not to go off the topic) – but I once heard it said, that we should try to approach life like a palm tree. (Yes, you read it correctly, a palm tree) – imagine it situated in a hot, sunny climate. When a storm hits the area in which it abides. That palm tree is not stressed. Why? you may ask – because it bends towards the way in which the wind blows, it springs back. But I’ve come to realize that this is not realistic, we are not made like palm trees. Palm trees are naturally created with the structure to bend and bounce back easily. When things hit us, especially when it’s unexpected it can come as a shock.
Resilience can be described as one’s ability to overcome adverse events. These events might include traumatic experiences, loss, serious health problems, and other types of stress that significantly impact health and well-being. -Good therapy
– Good Therapy
So how can we build resilience? First things first….
1. Take a resilience test
This is the one I took: https://www.bwcharity.org.uk/resilience-check
This helped me to identify areas in which may need developing.
2. Journal
Don’t hold things in, and hope things will go away. Admit your true feelings.
My main go-to is (Journaling). I’ve been journaling for over 15 years. It is really helpful when you want an outlet after a really stressful situation. (Currently, there’s a lot of anxiety and stress around the Coronavirus, off load your burdens and worries onto paper.)
3. SLEEP, EAT & STAY HYDRATED
I know it may sound obvious. But I’ve noticed that I’m much more grouchy, irritated and restless when faced with opposition and stress if I don’t get enough sleep, or I’ve eaten poorly or I’m dehydrated.
4. Make Time for YOURSELF
Where I’m always preoccupied doing something for someone else I can sometimes end up feeling like I’ve been cheated out of time for myself. Read or listen to a book, color or draw, listen to music –create your own coffee shop at home, (put some jazz music on,(I’ve linked one below) make your favourite Chai Latte, or Coffee, and relax.)
5. Know your strengths.
– take a personality test.
https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test
And embrace and develop your weaknesses
6. Don’t Neglect Friendships
This is the one thing I really need to work on. Be the first to initiate conversations – (At the moment, utilize technology, WhatsUp, text and social media.) You may find that what you’re going through is not a rare situation but more common than you think.
7. Confront issues that concern you
I’m speaking to myself also when I say this, I’ve allowed layers to build up in my heart over the past few months, without confronting situations at work and amongst family, which are not right, fair, or justified. If you don’t confront issues no matter how small or insignificant they may look – for example, let’s say your supervisor always addresses you to cover shifts, or roles, rather than speak to other co-workers who may be available, when they should be sharing the burden.
Or your co-workers take a back seat, whilst you take on the responsibility that is not yours to take – you may eventually blow your top (no matter how strong you may think you are.) Confrontation, doesn’t mean, tell the person, all the bad things you think of about them. It means, knowing when to say no, in a professional way – It also means knowing your limitations, and saying so.
Above I have shared a few tips that may help you.
I’ve also linked a web page from Mind, and Good Therapy with more tips and info about resilience in greater depth. Remember I’m still on a journey to building my resilience. I hope you join me on this quest.
https://www.mind.org.uk/about-us/local-minds/resilience
https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychpedia/resilience
Link any useful tips you use to build resilience.
LookafterU4me 
Sorry this is so late. Thank you for your ‘like’ it is much appreciated:) Enjoy your day:)
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