Are you a resilient person?

Although resilience is a state of mind, it is tied to one's physical health as well, so a person with low resilience may fall ill easily when faced with a difficult or stressful situation. — TNS

I recently read about resilience and the resilience quotient. Is resilience the same as immunity?

Resilience in this case refers to resilience in a human being.

It is the capacity to remain flexible in your thoughts, feelings and behaviours when faced with a disruption in your life or extended periods of stress.

You will then emerge from the difficult time in your life stronger, wiser and more capable.

The word “resilience” comes from the description of a certain property in physical materials, i.e. the ability of a substance to return to its original state after being bent or stretched – sometimes dramatically.

Resilience is not the same as immunity.

Immunity is a state of being resistant to a pathogen or infecting agent, e.g. the way you are immune to measles after getting it once.

Immunity may happen naturally, or be produced by a prior infection or immunisation.

So, there is indeed a resilience quotient?

Yes. Your resilience quotient is the capacity you have to cope with stresses, anxiety and tough times.

You can even go online and test yourself!

Your resilience quotient is synonymous with your physical health.

If it is low, then you may be at risk of developing an illness every time you face tough times.

Were you ever acquainted with someone in school who fell sick every time he had to take an exam?

Or do you know someone who developed huge anxiety about driving after she had a car accident, and now refuses to drive at all?

So yes, your resilience quotient affects both your physical and mental well-being, as well as the people around you.

How do you differentiate a resilient person from a non-resilient person?

There are different degrees of resilience.

When you have a significant negative event in your life, such as the death of a loved one or a particularly bad medical diagnosis (e.g. cancer), a resilient person is often able to bounce back from the repercussions of the event.

In fact, they might occasionally do more than just bounce back to the way they were.

Psychology suggests that the most resilient people often find new paths and new learnings, leading to new growth.

It is possible that they would become even mentally stronger than they were before.

Psychological resilience has three essential factors:

> Recovery

This is when the person returns to their usual level of functioning before the stressing event.

For example: You have to go for a surgery.

It is normal to be stressed about a surgery.

But after you have gone through it and physically recovered, you then return to your pre- surgery state and go on doing the things you loved, such as jogging or swimming.

A non-resilient person may not mentally recover after their surgery, preferring to play helpless victim or choosing not to do physical activities they previously enjoyed, even when the doctor says they can.

> Resistance

This is when the person shows limited or no signs of disturbance following the stressing event.

> Reconfiguration

This is when the person finds new stability in their new circumstances, especially because a return to the original state is not possible.

For example: If you have been diagnosed to have terminal cancer, there is no returning to your previous state of health pre-cancer.

A resilient person comes to their own acceptance of this state, and goes about preparing to do their bucket list and making sure all their affairs are in order.

A non-resilient person will simply go to pieces and enter depression.

I am not sure that I am resilient. I want to be. Is there any way I can go about developing psychological resilience?

Resilience is usually developed through your experiences, and how you perceive and go through them.

You can increase your resilience through these steps:

> Keeping an open mind and being flexible

You don’t always have to take everything like a disaster when something bad happens.

Take a deep breath and take stock of the situation – can something positive come out of this bad thing?

You may not be able to change the situation, but you can change the way you look at it or react to it.

For example: You caught your husband having an affair.

Yes, the betrayal hurts and having to undergo a divorce may seem disastrous.

But you can look at it as being free from someone who disrespects you in such an intimate way and getting the chance to reclaim your life.

> Looking after yourself physically and mentally

The better you feel, the more resilient you will be.

So, exercise, good nutrition, socialisation and wellness therapies are very important.

> Breaking down your problems to smaller chunks

You need not be overwhelmed by a big problem.

Try to break it up and deal with it bit by bit.

For example: You lost your job.

You can begin by breaking down the issue to:

• Processing your emotions about losing your job.
• Assessing your financial situation and deciding how to manage your expenses while unemployed.
• Considering if you wish to change your career path or explore new avenues, like starting your own business.
• Finding another job.

Tick off each portion once you have dealt with it.

> Be optimistic

Be compassionate to yourself and celebrate your successes, even during troubled times.

People are usually worried when they think too much about the past or the future, so just focus on the present.

> Make decisions

Don’t procrastinate; just make a decision and take a step forward.

Don’t overthink whether it is the right or wrong decision.

> Do not be negative all the time

Stop constantly thinking about what could go wrong and focus on moving forward.

> Face your fears

They are usually not so big once you have faced them.

For example: Going for a cataract surgery.

Once you have had one, you will realise that it only takes twenty minutes and is completely painless!

Dr YLM graduated as a medical doctor, and has been writing for many years on various subjects such as medicine, health, computers and entertainment. For further information, email [e-mail]. The information provided is for educational and communication purposes only, and it should not be construed as personal medical advice. Neither The Star nor the author gives any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to such information. The Star and the author disclaim all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.