Counseling Services

Resilience in a Time of Global Crisis

In times of war, it is not unusual for people to have feelings of uncertainty. No one knows how long a war will last or how it will affect our lives. We may feel uncertain about the future and anxious about events that are out of our control. Some will talk openly about the world situation and their fears. However, some may not talk directly about the war, but may exhibit increased concern about other areas of their life and generally seem on edge.

You may react differently to a war today because of the impact of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Terrorism creates fear and ambiguity about what lies ahead. Because terrorist acts are random and unpredictable, war today poses a new kind of threat, one with which most Americans have little experience. You may feel more afraid, insecure, and vulnerable as a result of concerns that the United States could be attacked again.

We do not all respond the same way to war. Unlike 9/11, when many of us were of the same mind and heart and world support for the United States was nearly unanimous, there are differing views of the morality and politics of the present conflict with Iraq. For some it may seem that the war has nothing to do with you. On the other hand, the news can seem overwhelming. Those of us who have family and friends in the reserves or military may worry over their well-being.

War affects each of us differently, and we all have a unique way of dealing with stressful situations in a time of war. Building resilience – the ability to adapt well to unexpected changes and events – can help us manage stress and feelings of anxiety and uncertainty related to war. However, being resilient does not mean that you will not experience difficulty or distress. Emotional pain and sadness are common when we have suffered major trauma or personal loss in a time of war, or even when we hear of someone else’s loss or trauma.

The good news is we all can develop resilience. It involves behaviors, thoughts and actions that can be learned over time. Following are steps to building resilience that can help you adapt to unexpected events and stressful situations in a time of war.

Steps for Resilience in a Time of War

Make connection
Keep in touch with family, friends and others. Connecting with people provides social support and strengthens resilience. Do not be afraid to express your opinion, even if your parent or friend takes the opposite view. Ask questions and listen to answers. Be tolerant of differences. Some may find comfort in praying – connecting with God through organized religion or privately. You may also express your feelings in a journal or through art.
Help somebody
Nothing gets your mind off your own problems like solving someone else’s. It gives us another perspective besides our own. Try volunteering in our community through Service Learning (Ext. 2471) or here at school, cleaning-up around the house or apartment, or helping a friend with his or her homework.
Maintain a daily routine
Keeping up with your daily routine of classes, activities, work, interests, and friends provides you with a feeling of stability when the world around you seems chaotic. Sticking with a familiar routine can be comforting.
Take care of yourself
Be sure to take care of yourself – physically, mentally, and spiritually. And get sleep. If you do not you may be more irritable and nervous at a time when you have to stay sharp. Caring for yourself and even having fun will help you stay balanced and enable you to better deal with stressful times.
Give yourself a “news” break
Be sure to control the amount of time you and your friends spend watching and reading war-related news coverage. Although it is important to keep informed, too much news can make you more anxious. Try to limit the amount of news you take in, whether it is from television, newspapers, magazines, or the Internet. Watching a news report once informs you; watching it over and over again just adds to the stress and contributes no new knowledge.
Keep things in perspective
War may be all anyone is talking about now. But eventually, wars end. Try to keep a long term perspective. Avoid the slippery slope of black and white, good and evil thinking. Try not to catastrophize about the future.
Maintain a hopeful outlook
An optimistic and positive outlook enables you to see the good things in your life and can keep you going even in the hardest times. There are positive things in everyone's life. Taking the time to identify and appreciate them will enhance your outlook and help you persevere.
You are not alone
Remember that many people at Mercyhurst College and in the United States are invested in your safety, such as campus and local police, medical personnel at the student health center and local clinics/hospitals, fire and emergency squads, and school personnel such as professors, counselors, chaplains, resident assistants, and hall directors.

You can learn resilience. But just because you learn resilience does not mean you will not feel stressed or anxious. You might have times when you are not happy – and that’s OK. Developing resilience is a personal journey. An approach to building resilience that works for you might not work for someone else. If you are feeling stuck or overwhelmed and unable to use the steps listed above, you may want to consider talking to someone who can help. Resources on campus include:

The Counseling Center: Ext. 2468 or Ext. 2561
Campus Ministry: Ext 2301 or Ext. 2467 or Ext. 2430
A trusted professor
An RA

Turning to someone for guidance may help you strengthen resilience and persevere in a time of war.

(Adapted from the American Psychological Association 2003 brochures: “Resilience in a time of war” and “Resilience in a time of war: Adapting to war-time stress”).