Resiliency Building Post 10/7
I've been thinking a lot about resilience since the terrible events of October 7th, 2023 and it's aftermath. How do we summon our strengths to survive in grim times of pain and anxiety and what are the skills that foster resilience ?
A quick search of the word "resilience" in National Library of Medicine database yields over 25,000 citations. It's obvious that "bouncing back" is critical under many circumstances - and studies typically explore the 'how' of adapting to life's stressors.
One study of resilience included Vietnam Veterans who were prisoners of war in the infamous 'Hanoi Hilton.' These men were were held in and subjected to terrible conditions. Bob Shoemaker survived eight years. Incredibly, he maintained hope during his imprisonment by repeatedly designing the home he intended for his family to occupy. He kept his mind busy and maintained his hope by repeatedly building this home inside of his mind. Once he returned home: Shoemaker built the home to his meticulous specifications.
One of the amazing parts of his story is that Shoemaker says he wouldn't erase his experience of captivity from his past. He said that his experiences as a prisoner were a part of his life that he'd woven into the fabric of his experience, despite the adversities he'd faced during his lengthy imprisonment.
This report of resilience and hope fascinates. One might imagine wanting to leave terrible experiences in the past to improve resilience. But as it turns out, the authors of the study in which Shoemaker was a participant found that those prisoners of war who survived with the most ease:
Faced their fears head on
Stayed optimistic while realistically acknowledging adversities
Sought and participated in social support
Leaned on ideas from their role models
Turned to religious or spiritual practices
Attended to their health and well-being Stayed open to new learning
Maintained a flexible problem solving approach while employing acceptance
Identified meaning and growth during and after their time of adversity
The above is an excellent and beginning road map for building resilience. How might you employ the lessons from Bob Shoemaker and his compatriots as you navigate our post 10/7 world?
Vanessa Gorelkin, Licensed Occupational Therapist
Instagram: @itsvanessagorelkin Website: www.vanessagorelkin.com
Email: vanessagorelkin@gmail.com
