Resilience training helps disaster workers learn to cope with the the stresses of their work, and people with chronic health problems find ways to better navigate their challenges.
Resilience is the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma or significant stress.
The trait involves behaviors, thoughts and actions that can be learned and developed over time. Resilience training is a series of programs to help people learn to cope with and grow from stress or serious life struggles.
Resilience training is used to help disaster workers cope with the suffering they see in their work, or aid people with serious health problems learn to better navigate their challenges.
Most resilience training programs offer a combination of:
Reactions to stressful situations in life range from mild to severe. Stress causes both physiological symptoms such as headaches, stomach upset and difficulty sleeping, as well as emotional symptoms such as negative thoughts, sadness, anxiety and anger.
For many people, these problems will resolve on their own with time. However, symptoms can become so severe that they lead to post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Resilience training can be a preventative step, helping some people move through challenges without damaging long-term effects.
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People who have been through a stressful situation(s) or who face unique life challenges may have many of the following symptoms. If they persist for more than two weeks or get worse, seek help from a mental health professional. Your primary care physician may be able to recommend someone, or your employer may offer a program to help.
Resilience training programs vary. However, common themes include:
Resilience training is primarily designed to help people before they encounter stresses. They can also be used during or after these stresses are experienced. All resilience training programs have roughly the same goal, but can vary widely in terms of structure.
Program time frames can range from one two-hour session to 28 hours of training over multiple sessions. A common pattern is to have 60-to-90-minute sessions weekly over several weeks or months.
Most resilience training involves face-to-face training with a mental health professional. Some are online or may be offered in print form or done over the phone. Follow-ups (for example, six months after completing the program) are usually done.
These programs are found through employers, community groups or physician referral.
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Building resilience means learning to manage how stress affects you. It can apply to experiences before, during and after a stressful situation.
Before
Know what you are facing to help you cope better with the stresses you will encounter in potentially traumatic events:
During
Resilience training helps you discover that it is not selfish to look out for your own needs while you help others. It is the only way you will be able to continue to help them.
After
Coming home after a traumatic assignment and then settling back into a routine is not always easy. Don’t be afraid to talk about your feelings or seek professional help through your employer or other resources.
Here are a few tips to help ease you back in:
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Last reviewed on 09/06/2019.
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy