therapists

by Glenn Peters, Ph.D.

People who are struggling to cope with hardship usually experience many powerful emotions, such as anger, sadness, fear, and anxiety. Individuals who are less resilient stay stuck longer in these negative emotions and thoughts even after the hardship has long ended. More resilient people more quickly revert to their pre-hardship psychological state. This is often called the bounce back. These more resilient people can even develop a new sense of purpose in their lives. From hardship and trauma we can develop new strengths that we did not even know existed within us.