I am sure you have heard the question “Why do bad things happen to good people?” Recently, I have had a few friends and acquaintances who have experienced major life events that have tested their emotional and mental strength. Whether someone experiences a death, goes through a divorce or separation, or suffers a financial setback, the level of resilience a person has can help or hinder their recovery from a serious life event.
I am certainly not saying that one should not grieve a loss. Grieving is an important part of navigating through a major loss, but an article in Psychology Today notes that it’s resilience that seems to help a person regulate their emotions more effectively, therefore reducing the stress on the mind and body. That regulation can then allow the mind to tune in to cognitive resources that can help figure out what productive action can occur next. They also note that there are tell-tale signs whether a person is resilient including a positive attitude and optimism. Check out the full article here.
If you are having trouble sorting out a major life event and need some help, the Center for Counseling and Consultation can help. This service is free for USG students. I visited them last fall to sift through some issues I was having and they were quite helpful. They offer individual psychotherapy, career counseling, couples counseling as well as crisis management and emergency services. It is inevitable that we will all experience serious events that will require us to reach deep inside ourselves and find the tools to heal from our loss. It’s just nice to know that you don’t have to do it alone.