Building Resilience During Turbulent Times
The definition of resilience is the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties, a return to homeostasis. This year has taught us that our ability to persevere has been the most effective response to these challenging times. With the staggering numbers of economic and personal losses from the pandemic over the last nine months, I have had the honor to care for our community during one of the most uncertain times in our lives. I want to share a story from one of my patients, "Mary," who inspired me with her sense of compassion, hope, and resilience...
On March 15th, Mary lost her job of sixteen years due to the spread of COVID-19. Mary's two children were now out of school, bracing the difficulties of virtual learning. Mary began to do what we all did during that week in March, stock up on groceries and await news updates with hesitation and anxiety. Amid job searching, helping her children with virtual learning, and attempting to maintain her mental clarity, Mary's mother got COVID-19 in her nursing home six hours away from Mary and her children in the early days of April.
Fear took over Mary's entire family; the news was flooded with horror stories of New York City hospitals, nursing home infections, and an alarming death rate among those in Mary's mother's age group. Mary was unable to reach her mother's nursing home for six days, and on day seven, Mary found out her mother was in the ICU. I will never understand Mary's pain for the nine days her mother spent in the ICU. During those nine days of fear, Mary was still a mother to her two children, she was still an unemployed chef who was desperately looking for work, and she was a daughter to her mother, who was suffering from a virus that seemed to be uncontrolled.
Resilience is the process that allows individuals to adapt to adverse conditions and recover from them. Having a sense of faith during uncertain times allows for bodily control, positive affect, and a sense of optimism. Studies on resilience show that it helps reduce psychological stressors and increase general immunity. The influence of resilience factors on the brain and behavior can help the body form a positive immune response to stress, anxiety, and physical illness. The adaptive immune phenotype influences the ability to recover from inflammation-induced symptoms.
Flash forward to June of 2020, Mary obtained a new job in the marketing industry. She feels stable, comfortable, and supported by her community. Mary's children learn virtually, with a sense of confidence. Mary's mother has recovered and now has a new view on the beauty of life. When Mary told me her story in August, I was devastated to hear her family's trauma this year. Mary said to me, "I am strong because of my experiences, I am strong because of my two boys, and I am strong for the millions of other Americans, who are too weak to feel any strength at all."
This year all of our holidays are different than in previous years. During times of isolation, it can be difficult not to have your family members near you. Those who are spending the holiday season alone, remember that resilience and hope will guide you through these dark periods. I wish you all health, happiness, and a hopeful new year. To my community, patients, and family, I feel a sense of resilience because of the strength you all show me.
Happy Holidays & A Joyous New Year,
Dr. Ronald Stram
Founder & Medical Director
Thank you to Mary for allowing me to share her strength with us all.
Please Note: "Mary" is a pseudonym used for privacy.
Research on Immunity & Resilience:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.go...
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