Resilience: What is it? and How do you get it?

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RESILIENCE MEANS ADAPTING TO ADVERSITY

Resilience is 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 — both physically and psychologically. 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. It also offers protection from various mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety caused by a variety of events, including lack of social support, being bullied or previous trauma and living with chronic illness. Learning to cope with these issues is a big part of what resilience can bring into the many facets of your life, especially when you live with chronic pain.

When you have resilience, you harness inner strength that helps you rebound from a setback or challenge, such as a job loss, an illness, 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 resilience can give you the ability to see past them, find enjoyment in life and better handle stress. If you aren't as resilient as you'd like to be, you can develop skills to become more resilient.

SUPERBETTER – YOUR KEY TO HELPING BUILD RESILIENCE

One option to becoming more resilient is SuperBetter, a free online gaming tool created by game designer Jane McGonigal and backed by science to help build personal resilience: the ability to stay strong, motivated and optimistic even in the face of difficulty challenges. Resilience has a powerful effect on health -- by boosting physical and emotional well-being. Resilience also helps you achieve your life goals -- by strengthening your social support and increasing your stamina, willpower and focus. Every aspect of the game is designed to harness the power of positive emotions and social connection for live, feel, and act better. SuperBetter also has an app that connects you to your personal game information on the website.

SuperBetter was created with guidance from doctors, psychologists, scientists, and medical researchers. (Advisors and collaborators include MDs and PhDs at Stanford, UC Berkeley, University of Pennsylvania, and Ohio State University Medical Research Center.)

Click here to learn more. SuperBetter.com