ABSTRACT
It is widely acknowledged that most people, at some point in their lives, will experience some type of a traumatic event, such as disaster, epidemic, car accident, or health emergency. Relationship problems, a death of a close friend or loved one, and financial problems, can also be highly distressing and disruptive in day-today functioning. Although potentially traumatic events are common occurrences, only a small, but significant number of people go on to develop psychological symptoms that require treatment. In fact, most people will demonstrate considerable resiliency in response to adverse events. Although resilience has been defined in a variety of ways, most definitions include some aspect of bouncing back, adapting, or incorporating new behavioral, cognitive, and psychological ways of being after a stressful or traumatic event. Resilience is a multidimensional construct, influenced by a variety of factors including personality, level of social support, financial resources, and attachment styles. Resilience can occur at an individual or community level. This chapter will describe resilience and explain how it serves as a protective factor against developing some mental health disorders. High levels of resilience attenuate the expression of anxiety and depression, while maladaptive strategies increase both anxiety and depression symptoms. People with low resilience may become “stuck” in a state of nonrecovery making them more susceptible to developing post-traumatic stress disorder. This chapter will also review the importance of resilience building for first responders, humanitarian relief workers, and mental health clinicians. Learning how to confidently deal with and reframe negative experiences can contribute to positive outcomes for those who were exposed to traumatic stressors as well as their health care providers. Finally, this chapter will conclude with a discussion about the potential positive impacts on wellbeing following traumatic events, otherwise known as posttraumatic growth.
