Building Trauma Resilience

Resilience is the learned ability to recover from and effectively adapt following traumatic events or an accumulation of adverse circumstances.

It is not inherent, but a skill built and practiced over time in relationship and community with others. A consistent, nurturing relationship with at least one supportive parent, caregiver, or other adult is the single most common factor for children who develop and build resilience. 

Louisiana often frames resilience around how communities respond after extreme weather events. In that context, better-resourced communities may be considered more resilient due to their strong sense of community and the tangible resources that aid recovery or mitigate risks.

Individual resilience is a learned skill that requires similar resources. It is a relational process involving individual, genetic, social, cultural, and environmental factors. We learn this in community and in connection with others that needs to be practiced throughout our lives. Resilience is not a trait we are born with and it is not something we can use up.1

The earlier we learn and practice how to build resilience, the more effectively we can adapt and recover, which is especially important in childhood. Our brains and other biological systems are most adaptable early in life. Yet, it is never too late to build and practice resilience. Practicing resilience-building skills increases the probability of positive outcomes in the face of negative circumstances and can limit physiological changes in response to chronic stress. Building resilience requires access to protective factors and the ability to use those resources to sustain our well-being effectively.1

We can build resilience with others by:

Teaching Coping Skills

Children who develop emotional regulation skills through co-regulation and practice executive functioning skills are better able to cope effectively with different circumstances.

Developing nurturing relationships

The availability of at least one stable, caring, and supportive relationship between a child and important adults in their life which can include family, neighbors, teachers, coaches, and many others creates a opportunities to learn coping skills and build resilience.

Participating in community-centered and culturally affirming activities

Children grounded in such traditions and a sense of belonging are more likely to respond effectively when challenged by a major stressor.

References
  1. Source for this section: National Scientific Council on the Developing Child (2015). Supportive Relationships and Active Skill-Building Strengthen the Foundations of Resilience: Working Paper No. 13. Retrieved from www.developingchild.harvard.edu.