Preparing Emotionally for Difficult Times

Resilient people do not wait passively for crises to strike, so that they are caught by surprise. Rather, they are prepared and ready for the worst. Crisis preparation includes:

• Pre-crisis job performance training (methodical training strategies to optimize functioning under stress)
• Preparing emotionally for crises (powerful emotional inoculation strategies for anticipated adversities)
• Preparing for post-crises stress symptoms—denial and the double-edged reality of trauma; recognizing the worst type of traumatic events and who is at greatest risk; normalizing and understanding post-traumatic symptoms, including dissociation; resolving guilt; self-managed countermeasures
• Early treatment readiness to speed recovery and minimize long-term suffering and impairment. Findings relating early treatment to recovery. The disadvantages of waiting to find the right treatment. The healing, recovery, and growth process. Finding needed help, while doing all one can to help oneself.