It's winter, and I have decided bears have the right idea of hibernating until spring. The weather and snowy ground cover may be good for the farmer's winter wheat crop, but not so good for those of us who may struggle with depression, seasonal or otherwise, and anxiety. It's a season hard on mood disorders, and we have to gather our resources and develop some resiliency to function to the benefit our mental health.
In our last column, we talked about recovery and the support systems families and individuals need as they work through the adversaries that a behavioral health condition could present–to both body and mind. Resilience is a key component in recovery.
For example, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we have had to gather up our strengths to adapt to all the changes and adversaries it presented in our personal and family lives – and the world, for that matter. In any adversity, especially as it concerns our mental health, those of us who lack resilience get overwhelmed and may turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms. Being resourceful and dipping into our strengths and support systems to get through adversary is being resilient. Resiliency is like a protective shield offering an insurance or assurance that we can bounce back and find different ways to live a productive life.
Dr. Kenneth Ginsberg, a pediatrician who specializes in adolescent medicine developed these seven "C"s of resiliency to help teenagers thrive as they grow: competence, confidence, connection, character, contribution, coping and control. Of these, I have chosen four that will aid us as adults who want to "bounce back" from problems they are facing today: confidence – a belief in oneself; connection – reach out and accept the love and help of others; coping – look to your strengths, seek treatment, look for and use tools to aid your recovery; and control – take control of your life, set goals and work toward them. I would perhaps add one more "C" – courage – the courage to change the things you can change.
Submitted by:
Dodie Melvin, Executive Director
NAMI Knox Licking County Ohio
740-397-3088
