You Can Learn to Become More Resilient

Have you ever wondered why some people recover quickly and remain optimistic after stressful events, while others struggle and may develop a negative outlook?

Coping with stress depends largely on your psychological resilience, or the ability to adapt to adversity. It's shown that resilient people maintain stronger emotional health, remain highly functional, and enjoy a better quality of life.

Research on resilience
Findings from a Harvard School of Adult Development study--spanning over 70 years--found that how we respond to adversity is a more important determinant of healthy aging than the actual number and type of negative events we experience.

Research also shows that many older adults are psychologically resilient--maybe even more so than younger adults. Older adults face emotionally challenging situations, work through them, and ultimately find ways to bounce back and move forward.

The psychological resilience noted in older adults has stimulated research into physical resilience; specifically, which factors affect someone's ability to recover and/or resist decline after a major health event. Researchers theorize that physical resilience could be directly related to environment, genetics, social factors, and psychological resilience.

Tips to try
Resilience is a trait that does not diminish with age, so if you think of yourself as a resilient person, there's no need to worry.

If you don't believe yourself to be, good news--you can learn ways to become more resilient! At Erickson Senior Living, we demonstrated that the Stress Management and Resiliency Training Program, designed by the Benson Henry Institute, was effective in helping seniors significantly improve their resiliency and coping skills. This program was so effective that we continue to offer it on our campuses to this day.

Formal programs may be hard to find depending on where you live but take heart: Everyone has at least some innate resiliency that they've developed through life experiences. You can enhance this attribute by eating well, exercising, and getting a proper amount of sleep.

If you have chronic medical conditions, see your doctor(s) regularly and follow their advice for optimizing your health. The most resilient people also have solid social networks they can tap into for comfort and support.

Get additional support
Building your resiliency takes focus and practice. If you're having difficulty dealing with life's stressors, please seek help and guidance through your physician or a mental health provider. Professionals can be a great resource by providing perspective, direction, therapy, or treatment.

When difficulties arise, as they sometimes do, please remember that you have the resiliency to bounce back!

Request a brochure to learn more about how a move to an Erickson Senior Living community can support your health and well-being.