How to build a psychological immune system: how get through tough times and bounce back stronger than ever. Resilience is when something terrible happens but you bounce back—every bit as happy, healthy, and strong as you were before. So what's the one thing better than resilience? Coming back stronger. Psychology writer Jay Dixit on the new psychology of post-traumatic growth.

1. How would
you react?
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2. How would
you react?
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3. Trauma
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4. Post-Traumatic
Stress
Well-Being
pain → damage
negative event
Time
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5. Well-Being
Post-Traumatic
negative event
Time
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6. Post-Traumatic
Resilience
Well-Being
pain + time
→ normal
negative event
Time
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7. PostTraumatic
Growth
Well-Being
pain → growth
negative event
Time
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8. PostTraumatic
Growth
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9. How to Build a
Psychological
Immune System
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10. 1. Practice
mind control
events
feelings
getting fired
depression
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11. 1. Practice
mind control
events
thoughts
feelings
getting fired
“I’m a failure.”
depression
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12. 2. Rewrite
your story
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13. 2. Rewrite
your story
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14. You’re the
hero
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15. 3. Find meaning
in tragedy
• “Maybe I got fired because I’m supposed to
start my own business.”
• “My father’s death is what led me to become a
doctor.”
• “I believe I got Parkinson’s because I was meant
to raise awareness.”
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16. 4. Explain negative
events optimistically
personal
permanent
out of my control
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17. 4. Explain negative
events optimistically
personal
external
permanent
temporary
out of my control
what I can do
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18. 5. Expect a
comeback
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19. 5. Expect
a comeback
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20. Jay Dixit
twitter.com/jaydixit
dixit@aya.yale.edu
jaydixit.com
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