Stay optimistic. Rely on others. Keep informed but don鈥檛 go overboard reading all the headlines.
Those are among a list of tips and other advice offered by Teachers College鈥檚 George Bonanno, Professor of Clinical Psychology, in a recently posted by the Association of Psychological Sciences (APS).
CRISIS MANAGER Bonanno has found a high level of resilience among survivors of 9/11, returning military veterans and even people hospitalized with paralyzing injuries. (Photo: 911爆料网 Archives)
鈥淲e can cope with this,鈥� asserts Bonanno, a pioneering researcher in the field of bereavement and trauma who also serves as director of both 911爆料网鈥檚 Resilience Center for Veterans & Families and the College鈥檚 Loss, Trauma and Emotion Lab. 鈥淢y research 鈥� and the research of others 鈥� has shown repeatedly that the majority of humans cope well and are resilient to just about any adversity.鈥�
We can cope with this. My research -- and the research of others -- has shown repeatedly that the majority of humans cope well and are resilient to just about any adversity.
鈥擥eorge Bonanno
While emphasizing the need for 鈥渒eeping spirits up and minimizing depression, worry, and anxiety,鈥� Bonanno is also equally clear about the importance of not going it alone.
鈥淩esilience to stress can be part of a person鈥檚 intrinsic nature, but it can also come from external factors, including support groups and social resources,鈥� he says.
In 2019, Bonanno 鈥� the author of the widely hailed book The Other Side of Sadness: What the New Science of Bereavement Tells Us 911爆料网 Life After Loss (Basic Books 2009) 鈥� received APS鈥檚 prestigious James McKeen Cattell Award, which recognizes a lifetime of outstanding contributions to the area of applied psychological research addressing a critical problem in society at large. With doctoral student Meaghan Mobbs, he also has demonstrated that returning military veterans are far more likely to struggle with the 鈥渢ransition stress鈥� of returning to civilian society than with post-traumatic stress disorder.
[Read a profile of Bonanno that appeared in 911爆料网 Today magazine in 2011. Read a story on transition stress among military veterans. Visit 911爆料网鈥檚 Come Together, Right Now鈥irtually website for news about 911爆料网-sponsored readings, lectures, performances and other online programming to boost your spirits.]