Resilience Strengthens the Psyche
Study Shows: Inner Resilience Improves Disease Progression and Quality of Life
Resilience – a crucial resource for chronic diseases
Resilience describes a person’s ability to cope well with stressful situations and crises, and even emerge stronger from them. The study in Deutsches Ärzteblatt highlights that more resilient people with chronic physical illnesses have significantly more stable mental health. This is particularly evident in the fact that more resilient patients suffer less from depression or anxiety and are generally better able to cope with the challenges of their illness.
The study results make it clear: Those who are resilient assess their own illness situation more positively and develop more active coping strategies. Instead of falling into passivity or hopelessness, resilient people focus on their existing resources and take a more active role in dealing with their illness. This not only leads to a better mental state, but also contributes to positively influencing the course of the disease in the long term.
How resilience can be trained
The good news is that resilience can be learned. According to the study, patients benefit from interventions such as psychological counseling, mindfulness-based training (e.g. meditation or yoga) and group therapies that are specifically designed to build resilience. These measures strengthen self-confidence, promote optimism and support patients in actively coping with their illness. This can improve both the quality of life and the general state of health.
Another important result of the study: The earlier resilience-promoting measures are used in a chronic disease, the greater their long-term benefit for those affected. Doctors and therapists should therefore pay attention to strengthening resilience as early as the time of diagnosis.
Promoting resilience in physical illnesses is an essential prerequisite for maintaining mental stability and positively influencing the course of the disease.