Resilience During the Holidays

Filzah Shafiq, Pharm.D. Candidate 2027

Have you ever found yourself in a state of emotional turmoil? Have you ever been sick and gotten better physically, but still felt mentally fatigued? Regulating and taking proper care of mental and emotional health is often overlooked and not seen as a priority when considering one’s overall well-being, especially during the stress of the semester. This misunderstanding of the importance of mental and emotional health may lead to the deterioration of an individual’s well-being and prove to be an area where increased resilience is needed. Resiliency can positively boost mental health and help defend against mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. It has been proven that resilience is lower among people who develop mental disorders and that high levels of resilience may prevent the development of an illness or minimize the severity of illness. Resiliency can also minimize the developmental process of a disease, whether it be mental, physical, or mental to physical. Furthermore, stronger resiliency is associated with higher levels of well-being, quality of life, and life satisfaction. Thus, make sure to take some time out this winter break and build up your mental and emotional health resilience.