Resilience is the psychological quality that allows some people to be knocked down by the adversities of life and come back at least as strong as before. Rather than letting difficulties, traumatic events, or failure overcome them and drain their resolve, highly resilient people find a way to change course, emotionally heal, and continue moving toward their goals .
What Is Resilience? (Plain Language Explanation)
Resilience refers to a pattern of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that many people experience. While it can be challenging, it's also well-understood and treatable.
Key Terms to Know About Resilience
- Symptoms: The specific ways resilience shows up for you
- Triggers: Situations or thoughts that activate or worsen resilience
- Evidence-based: Treatments backed by scientific research
- Comorbidity: When resilience occurs alongside other conditions
3 Things Most People Don't Know About Resilience
- Resilience is far more common than most people realize
- Resilience is not caused by weakness — it has identifiable biological and psychological causes
- Most people with resilience see significant improvement with the right support
Your Next Steps
Learning about resilience is just the beginning. If you think you're experiencing resilience, speaking with a mental health professional is the most valuable next step.