COVID-19: a test of resilience
Imagine this.
You’re rafting down a mountain river. Between the slow water and shallow sections, you know you will encounter unavoidable rapids and sharp turns. You want to survive and enjoy the ride, so you prepare. Perhaps you enlist the support of more experienced rafters to help guide you, or maybe you rely on the companionship of trusted friends along the way. Maybe you even pack an extra life jacket or consider using a stronger raft. With the right tools and support in place, you feel good that you will not only make it through your river adventure, but you know you will emerge a more confident and courageous rafter. And the best part? You’ll probably have lots of fun, too.
Whether you know it or not, by preparing for your adventure, understanding the risks and taking up the challenge, you’ve built up your resilience to adapt, overcome and succeed.
The COVID-19 health crisis is a test of resilience for every single person in our community, as we deal with ever-changing, daily impacts. Services are limited, businesses are closed and we are learning more and more about the concept of social distancing. Check out our COVID-19 blog for more information on what’s happening at CUPS.
What is resilience?
Psychologists define resilience as the process of adapting in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or significant sources of stress — such as family and relationship problems, serious health problems, or workplace and financial stressors. As much as resilience involves "bouncing back" from these difficult experiences, it can also involve profound personal growth.
While these adverse events, much like rough river waters, are certainly painful and difficult, they don’t have to determine the outcome of your life. There are many aspects of your life you can control, modify and grow with. Becoming more resilient not only helps you get through difficult circumstances, it also empowers you to grow and even improve your life along the way.
And like building muscle, increasing your resilience takes time and intention. To increase your capacity for resilience to weather and grow from difficulties, consider use these strategies:
Focus on relationships.
The pain of traumatic events can lead some people to isolate themselves, but it’s important to accept help and support from those who care about you. Whether you have a weekly date night with your partner (in your own home right now!) or plan a virtual lunch with a friend, try to prioritize genuinely connecting with people who care about you.
Make connections.
Connecting with empathetic and understanding people can remind you that you’re not alone in the midst of difficulties. Focus on finding trustworthy and compassionate individuals who validate your feelings, which will support the skill of resilience. Along with one-on-one relationships, some people find that being active in civic groups, faith-based communities, or other local organizations provides social support and can help you reclaim hope. While we practice social distancing due to COVID-19, many organizations are offering virtual connection opportunities to keep us engaged and feeling part of the community.
Practice self-care.
Taking time for yourself is a legitimate practice for boosting mental health and building resilience. Promoting positive lifestyle factors like proper nutrition, ample sleep, hydration, massage therapy and regular exercise can strengthen your body to adapt to stress and reduce the toll of emotions like anxiety or depression.
Help others.
Whether you volunteer with a local nonprofit or simply support a friend in their own time of need, you can garner a sense of purpose, foster self-worth, connect with other people and tangibly help others, all of which can empower you to grow in resilience.
Set goals.
Develop some realistic goals and do something regularly — even if it seems like a small accomplishment — that enables you to move toward the things you want to accomplish. Instead of focusing on tasks that seem unachievable, ask yourself: "What's one thing I know I can accomplish today that helps me move in the direction I want to go?"
Embrace healthy thoughts
How you think can play a significant part in how you feel — and how resilient you are when faced with obstacles. Try to identify areas of irrational thinking, such as a tendency to catastrophize difficulties or assume the world is out to get you, and adopt a more balanced and realistic thinking pattern. For instance, if you feel overwhelmed by a challenge, remind yourself that what happened to you isn’t an indicator of how your future will go, and that you’re not helpless.
Ready to embark on your path to resilience? Learn more about Resilience at CUPS and our innovative Resiliency Tool that has revolutionized the intake process for vulnerable individuals and families at CUPS. Not only does this tool help CUPS provide effective care, but they are able to measure and report impact, and — most importantly — better able to break cycles of poverty and trauma and build lasting resilience.
Interested in getting involved at CUPS? Click here.