A Project With Purpose
As part of a psychology internship I am doing while in high school, I was given the option of writing a paper or creating a project. With guidance from my supervisor, Dr. Beverly Shieh (a clinical psychologist), I went with the project; one that I hoped would be useful to others.
My goal was to take what the research says about resilience and make it something people can actually use, whether you are a teen living with a chronic illness yourself or you are a parent trying to figure out how to help. Everything here comes from real research. It is not therapy and it is not a replacement for professional support, but hopefully it is a start.
What does research say about resilience?
There has been a lot of research conducted on the topic of resilience, even with young people. There are some common themes that emerge from the research that are shared here. The reference page has the full source list if you want to learn more about some of the research that exists.
CHRONIC CONDITIONS AFFECT MENTAL HEALTH
Learning to catch worst-case-scenario thoughts and find a more accurate, more liveable version of what is actually happening.
RESILIENCE CAN BE BUILT
Not suppressing feelings, not drowning in them either. Having actual strategies for when things get heavy.
THE EARLIER, THE BETTER
Figuring out how to let people in when a health condition makes isolation feel easier than asking for help.
Four things that actually help
Researchers have found four areas that make the biggest difference for young people navigating chronic health conditions. Think of them as four different muscles. You can work on any of them at any time.
01
FLEXIBLE THINKING
Learning to catch worst-case-scenario thoughts and find a more accurate, more liveable version of what is actually happening.
02
MANAGING EMOTIONS
Not suppressing feelings, not drowning in them either. Having actual strategies for when things get heavy.
03
STAYING CONNECTED
Figuring out how to let people in when a health condition makes isolation feel easier than asking for help.
04
FEELING IN CONTROL
Finding what is genuinely yours to influence so your condition does not become the only thing that defines you.
If you are reading this as a parent
Watching your child deal a chronic health condition is genuinely hard. As I've learned from talking with my own parents, they want to help but it is not always clear how. The information shared here can hopefully help give your child practical tools they can actually use, and it gives your family a shared language for talking about the stuff that does not always come up at medical appointments.
The most helpful thing is usually genuine curiosity without the urge to fix immediately. Browse through this with them. Ask which area feels hardest right now. Let them lead.
Where to begin...
Try using some of the resources here on TeenVisionSupport.com, like our self-reflection quiz! It's not a formal test or assessment, but can help start you thinking about resilience in a new way that's more specific to you. After that, take a deeper look at some of the recommended strategies listed in the toolkit for resilience. Don't forget to share your own journey and experience as well. And for those who would like to take a deeper dive into some of the published research on resilience with children and teens, be sure to click on the reference button bellow to view a full reference list used to help create this website.
The self-reflection quiz gives you a quick picture of which of the four areas feels strongest right now and which ones need more attention.
1. Self-Reflection Quiz
Actual strategies that are based on the four key areas that you can adopt and practice. You don't have to do them all. Pick one that feels relevant right now and try it.
2. Try the toolkit
Take a moment to visit one of the groups on this website and share your story. Take a moment to also read the posts from others. There is strength in sharing!