Getting Through Hard Times

Newswise — Many families are struggling to put their lives back together following Hurricane Katrina, while others are fleeing Hurricane Rita. UAB psychologist Joshua Klapow, Ph.D., says the will to survive is instinctual and hardwired in humans. Some people are better equipped to bounce back from tragedy than others. This ability to bounce back is called resilience. "Being resilient doesn't mean you aren't affected by the situation, or that you don't experience intense emotions. It means that you can adapt and keep moving forward over time. Research shows that supportive relationships from family and friends, the ability to make realistic goals and take actions to reach them, and the ability to solve problems and handle strong feelings and impulses are important key factors in predicting resiliency."