Resilience in the Face of Disaster

More than two-thirds of trauma victims studied said that they had actually benefited from the trauma in some way, Richard Tedeschi, a clinical psychologist from the University of North Carolina stated. In a study of Vietnam-era prisoners of war, nearly two-thirds said they were more content, stronger and wiser than they were before their captivity.

Shipwreck survivors reported strong positive changes in their outlook on life, greater self-esteem and most importantly, lower scores on measures of post-traumatic stress.

Dr. Alex Hossach, Consultant Clinical Psychologist with St. Helen’s Trust in the United Kingdom, stated, “Sometimes, a caring family member can help the individual by simply listening to their problems.”

Dr. Sally Satel of New York says: “Are our priests and rabbis not up to the task? Are our families’ instincts to comfort not keen enough?” She warned against “sensationalizing mental health professionals” spreading gloom and doom about the American people’s alleged lack of resilience, stating, “What we need—and thankfully seem to have—is a morally galvanized and focused citizenry, not a population turned inward on its alleged psychological fragility.”

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