The Resilience Workbook: Essential Skills to Recover from Stress, Trauma, and Adversity

by Glenn R. Schiraldi PhD

Overview

What is resilience, and how can you build it? In The Resilience Workbook, Glenn Schiraldi—author of The Self-Esteem Workbook—offers invaluable insight and outlines essential skills to help you bounce back from setbacks and cultivate a growth mindset.

Why do some people sail through life’s storms, while others are knocked down? Resilience is the key. Resilience is the ability to recover from difficult experiences, such as death of loved one, job loss, serious illness, terrorist attacks, or even just daily stressors and challenges. Resilience is the strength of body, mind, and character that enables people to respond well to adversity. In short, resilience is the cornerstone of mental health.

Combining evidence-based approaches including positive psychology, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and skills for regulating stress, The Resilience Workbook will show you how to bounce back and thrive in any difficult situation. You’ll learn how to harness the power of your brain’s natural neuroplasticity; manage strong, distressing emotions; and improve mood and overall well-being. You’ll also discover powerful skills to help you prevent and recover from stress-related conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, anger, and substance abuse disorders.

When the going gets tough, you need real, proven-effective skills to manage your stress and heal from setbacks. The comprehensive and practical exercises in this workbook will help you cultivate resilience, stay calm under pressure, and face all of life’s challenges.

This book has been selected as an Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Self-Help Book Recommendation—an honor bestowed on outstanding self-help books that are consistent with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) principles and that incorporate scientifically tested strategies for overcoming mental health difficulties. Used alone or in conjunction with therapy, our books offer powerful tools readers can use to jump-start changes in their lives.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781626259423
Publisher:	New Harbinger Publications
Publication date:	11/01/2017
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	288
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Glenn R. Schiraldi, PhD, has served on the stress management faculties at the Pentagon, the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, and the University of Maryland, where he received the Outstanding Teaching Award and other teaching and service awards. His books on stress-related topics have been translated into sixteen languages, and include: The Resilience Workbook; The Self-Esteem Workbook; Ten Simple Solutions for Building Self-Esteem; The Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Sourcebook; and The Anger Management Sourcebook. Glenn’s writing has been recognized by various scholarly and popular sources, including The Washington Post, American Journal of Health Promotion, Mind/Body Health Review, and the International Stress and Tension Control Society Newsletter. He has trained laypersons and clinicians around the world on various aspects of resilience and trauma, with the goal of optimizing mental health and performance while preventing and promoting recovery from stress-related conditions. His skills-based mind/body courses at the University of Maryland have been found to improve self-esteem, resilience, happiness, optimism, and curiosity, while reducing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and anger. He has served on the editorial board of the International Journal of Emergency Mental Health and Human Resilience, and the board of directors of the Depression and Related Affective Disorders Association. A graduate of the United States Military Academy, West Point, he holds graduate degrees from Brigham Young University and the University of Maryland.
Glenn R. Schiraldi, PhD, has served on the stress management faculties at The Pentagon; the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation; and the University of Maryland, where he received the Outstanding Teaching Award in addition to other teaching and service awards. His books on stress-related topics have been translated into sixteen languages, and include: The Resilience Workbook; The Self-Esteem Workbook; Ten Simple Solutions for Building Self-Esteem; The Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Sourcebook; and The Anger Management Sourcebook. Glenn’s writing has been recognized by various scholarly and popular sources, including The Washington Post, American Journal of Health Promotion, Mind/Body Health Review, and the International Stress and Tension Control Society Newsletter.

He has trained laypersons and clinicians around the world on various aspects of stress, trauma, and resilience, with the goal of optimizing mental health and performance while preventing and promoting recovery from stress-related conditions. His skills-based mind-body courses at the University of Maryland have been found to improve self-esteem, resilience, happiness, optimism, and curiosity, while reducing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and anger. He has served on the editorial board of the International Journal of Emergency Mental Health and Human Resilience, the board of directors of the Depression and Related Affective Disorders Association, and the ABC News post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) working group. A graduate of the United States Military Academy, West Point; he holds a doctorate from the University of Maryland. He is founder of Resilience Training International, which serves people facing great stress, their families, and their helpers. Learn more at www.resiliencefirst.com.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Part 1 Resilience Basics
1. Readying Your Amazing, Adaptable Brain
2. Regulating Arousal: The Basics
3. Advanced Arousal Regulation Skills
4. Rapid Relief Techniques
5. Calm Thinking
6. Mindfulness
7. Self-Compassion
8. Expressive Writing
9. Managing Distressing Dreams
Part 2 Spiraling Upward: Growing Happiness and Positivity
10. Happiness Basics
11. Gratitude
12. Self-Esteem 
13. Realistic Optimism
14. Altruism
15. Humor
16. Moral Strength
17. Meaning and Purpose
18. Social Intelligence
19. Socially Intelligent Families
20. Forgiveness
21. Balance and Healthy Pleasures
Part 3 Thriving: Peak Functioning and Adaptive Coping
22. Active Coping
23. Self-Confidence
24. Flexibility and Creativity
25. Early Treatment Readiness
Putting It All Together
Conclusion
Acknowledgments
Free Online Resources
Appendix A: Brain Health Planning Form
Appendix B: An Initial Fourteen-Day Commitment
Appendix C: Log Sheet for Resilience Strategies
Recommended Resources
References

Interviews

Schiraldi resides in Ashburn, VA.

Editorial Reviews

Resilience is the final frontier in human psychology. Schiraldi has created a wonderful resource and valuable compendium of academic science and practical behavioral suggestions—a powerful foundation for the acquisition of resilience skills.”
—George S. Everly Jr., PhD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; executive director of Resiliency Science Institutes, International; and coauthor of The Secrets of Resilient Leadership

“With extensive experience in mental health, academic, international crisis, and military environments, Glenn Schiraldi is uniquely prepared to offer excellent and expert guidance in developing and maintaining resilience—clarifying the best principles and practices for optimizing our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health and fitness under challenging circumstances. As in his previous books, Schiraldi again offers wise, caring, comprehensive, and accessible guidance. We can rely on him with trust and confidence for negotiating life’s challenges.”
—Edward Tick, PhD, author of War and the Soul, director of Soldier’s Heart (for successful warriors return), and clinical psychotherapist focusing on veterans issues

“This book is written for any person at any level of emotional health. The true beauty is that individuals—be they professionals looking to enhance their skills or people struggling with their own tragedies—can implement the strategies in their own life, and then use them to strengthen and help others. This guide will be a boon to every parent and homemaker. Nearly every chapter has something I’ll use on a daily basis. As a mother and a counselor, I deeply appreciate Schiraldi’s expertise and insight. An amazing book.”
—Janet Harkness, homemaker, mother, and peer counselor

“The Resilience Workbook is clearly the authoritative work in the field. Schiraldi methodically takes the reader through the three critical steps of resilience training: gaining a basic understanding of the critical issues of resilience, helping the reader determine his or her own level of resilience, then guiding the reader through step-by-step exercises to build and maintain a resilient mind. Clearly a seminal work in the field of resilience.”
—Steve O. Steff, PhD, president and CEO of Crisis Care International

“This is a great book! Comprehensive, authoritative, understandable, and practical. Schiraldi has pulled together the current research for mind and body, and produced a ‘how-to’ guide to inoculate you and those you care about against the inevitable trials of life. Even better, it is a guide to healthy, happy, fulfilling living in general. I’m getting a copy for every member of my family.”
—Thomas W. Garrett, retired major general of the US Army

“Life’s trials are inevitable. How we respond to them is a product of the resilience we consciously develop, and Schiraldi shows us how.”
—Greg Baer, MD, author of Real Love and Post-Childhood Stress Disorder

“A remarkably comprehensive, yet accessible and practical, treatise on resilience. I really believe that everyone will benefit from reading and using it. While this book will certainly benefit high-risk groups, it is also a great how-to and must-read for business professionals, entrepreneurs, students, parents, and anyone else who experiences stress and adversity.”
—Alan D. Boss, PhD, assistant professor of business at the University of Washington Bothell

“Schiraldi goes beyond preparing or finding a way back. This resilience guide leads us to higher ground. It is the very best I have seen for both pre-occurrence preparedness and post-exposure recovery—providing greatly encouraging, comprehensive growth and integration, especially in the core values of spirituality, meditation, religion, ethics, and morality.”
—Glenn Calkins, MDIV, LCSW, BCC, firefighter, EMT, fire chaplain, and certified supervisor of the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education

From the Publisher