The current flooding issues are causing a tremendous amount of stress in this part of the state. As a result, we may feel overwhelmed and depressed.
The ability to bounce back from any crisis or adversity, and to adapt well to changes in your life is called resilience. Everyone has the capacity for resilience, and you can learn to develop your resilience skills at any age.
The Red River Resilience programs offers tips on how to think and behave, which can help us develop successful methods of coping and adaptation to challenging situations, are summarized by the acronym FACTS.
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Gail Slinde is a youth development agent for the NDSU Extension Service in Ward County.
Foster hope: Focus on the positive and have confidence in yourself. Trust in your ability to cope successfully. Put your situation into perspective. You couldn't prevent the flood, but you can control your reactions. Notice small improvements in yourself and your situation as time passes.
Act with purpose: Identify your personal issues and create an action plan to help you deal with them. Focus on small, achievable steps. Actively cope with your crisis by talking with someone you trust or writing your thoughts and feelings in a journal.
Connect with others: Maintain close, positive relationships with family and friends, drawing comfort and strength from their support. Accept the help offered to you and do what you can to help others.
Take care of yourself: Eat nutritious foods, get enough sleep and stay physically active. Take time to relax and nurture your spirituality whenever you can. Relaxing and doing something you enjoy can make you better able to cope with stressful situations.
Search for meaning: Our struggles with problems and adversity often give us positive growth. Look for changes in yourself, such as a renewed appreciation for life, closer relationships, and a greater perception of inner strength.
For more information about developing resilience, log on at (www.RedRiverResilience.com) or at (www.ag.ndsu.edu).