analytical psychologist, psychosomatotherapist, coach
What is psychological stability? How to understand what level you have and what to do to increase it? Let’s constantly understand all the nuances.
What is the psychological stability of a person?
Psychological stability is the ability to respond appropriately to stress, difficulties and negative events, maintaining or quickly restoring one’s emotional balance. We are talking about a person who, in any circumstance, does not lose a positive attitude towards life, meanings and value orientations. The most interesting thing is that this property is not innate, it is formed in the process of personal development.
Signs of psychological stability are capabilities:
• control negative emotions and not give in to them; • maintain optimism, hope and inner positivity; • not lose self-esteem and sense of self-efficacy; • recover from stress with minimal losses; • don’t focus on problems, keep moving forward all the time.
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Psychological stability factors
Psychological resilience is an important component of mental health and successful adaptation to the demands of the external environment. The ability to maintain balance under the influence of stressful situations depends on a number of personal factors and a person’s life experience.
The presence of a system of meanings and values that make life conscious and give it direction. Clear goals and beliefs help a person not to lose himself, no matter what life difficulties come his way. Adequate self-esteem and self-acceptance. People who are overwhelmed with these options easily endure failure and criticism in their direction. They develop coping strategies. Here we are talking about the ability to adapt to stress with the help of productive coping (problem solving, support seeking, cognitive reappraisal) Social support. If a person has loved ones who are ready to provide emotional and “technical” support, he is less susceptible to stress. Consequently, difficulties will be easier to bear Physical health and care for it. Regular moderate exercise, proper nutrition and general lifestyle increase overall resistance to stress Experience in overcoming difficulties in the past. People who have managed to cope with life’s challenges have greater psychological stability.
Thus, psychological stability is influenced by a whole range of personal resources and social factors. Their development and strengthening significantly increase a person’s ability to withstand difficult life situations and adapt to new conditions.
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Psychological stability levels
Psychological stability is divided into several levels, which can be inherent in different people based on their experience, personal qualities and capabilities.
1. Basic level of psychological stability it is the ability to maintain emotional stability in everyday life and not lose composure in small stressful situations. At this level, people can more successfully deal with minor day-to-day challenges, such as work delays, conflicts with colleagues, or minor financial problems.
2. Average level of psychological stability It is the ability to maintain emotional and mental stability during more serious stressful situations, such as job loss, divorce, or serious illness. People with a high level of this resilience can deal with such crises more effectively while maintaining balance and the ability to function normally.
3. High level of psychological stability It is the ability to maintain emotional and mental stability in the most severe and prolonged stressful situations, such as serious illness, the loss of loved ones, traumatic events or disasters. People with a high level of resilience can not only successfully cope with crises of this kind, maintaining balance and the ability to function as usual, but they can also quickly adapt to changing conditions.
Formation of psychological stability.
This process begins in early childhood and continues throughout life. An important factor here is early relationship experience with parents and other close people. Children who receive enough love, care, and attention tend to feel more secure and protected in the world. With that foundation, they can better cope with stress and adapt to new situations in the future.
The ability to Manage your emotional reactions.. People who are able to recognize, express and control feelings have a higher level of psychological resilience. Also, it is important here to learn to accept the inevitability of life changes and crises, as well as the need to adapt to them.
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One of the key factors in the formation of psychological stability is experience of successfully overcoming difficulties. People who encounter them regularly and find ways to deal with them learn to believe in themselves and increase their ability to self-regulate. They tend to be more efficient and know that they can achieve their goals.
An important factor is support from other people. If a person has high-quality relationships with family, friends, and colleagues, he will be able to cope with stress and difficulties more easily.
Finally, Personality traits it can also affect indicators of psychological stability. For example, people who have a high level of self-discipline, a reserve of optimism, and a commitment to achieving goals tend to be much more resilient in the face of adversity.
In general, the process of formation of psychological stability is complex and depends on many factors. The level of development of this option can be increased throughout life, and each person chooses the optimal strategy here individually. Here to help you: training, psychotherapy and personal work in the development of certain qualities and abilities. Let’s take a look at the steps you can take to boost psychological stability.
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How to improve your resilience? 5 tips from a psychologist
Greater mental resilience can be achieved through a series of practical actions and lifestyle changes. We’ll see five momentsthose worth paying attention to.
1. Improve sleep quality. If you don’t get enough sleep, the risk of increased stress levels increases dramatically and the ability to cope decreases. Try to get enough sleep. At least 7-8 hours a day. Also keep a regular sleep and wake schedule.
2. Regular exercise. They can reduce stress levels and improve mental health scores. Find time for activity and moderate exercise. It can be: walking, running, doing yoga or swimming.
3. Development of social support. Involving loved ones can increase resilience and reduce stress levels. Try to maintain quality relationships with loved ones, communicate with friends and participate in social events.
4. Pumping the ability to regulate emotions. Learn to acknowledge your feelings, control them, and find ways to relax. Here, meditation and breathing practices (deep breathing with the stomach) can help.
5. Development of coping skills. Learn to accept the inevitable changes and crises of life as an integral part of our lives. Look for accommodations and positives.
6. Training in planning and time management. Develop action strategies to achieve your goals. Manage time and personal priorities.
7. Contact a specialist. If you are experiencing increased levels of stress or anxiety, it may be helpful to seek professional help. Speech therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and other methods can help build resilience and improve coping skills.
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Test to determine psychological stability
When taking the test, try to answer honestly. It is important that nothing interferes with you and that there is enough time to think about the questions. This test will highlight your strengths and areas for growth.
Instructions: Please answer “yes” or “no” to the following statements about How do you usually react to stressful situations?
I manage to stay calm even in very stressful times. I can control my emotions when I face difficulties. I don’t lose my head in critical situations and I can make reasonable decisions. I am confident in my ability to cope with life’s difficulties. optimistic and believe in the best, even when faced with setbacks. I have a trusted support system of friends and family. I exercise regularly and keep myself in good physical shape. I try to analyze stressful situations and learn from them. I can find meaning and value in difficult life situations.
Punctuation:
For each affirmative answer, 1 point. If the answer is “no” – 0 points.
Interpretation of results:
8-10 points – a high level of psychological stability; 5-7 points – an average level of psychological stability. There are resources, but there is also something to work on; 0-4 points – a low level of psychological stability. It is recommended to develop resistance to stress.
This simple questionnaire allows a general assessment of a person’s ability to maintain internal balance in stressful situations. If deeper diagnoses are required, more detailed methods should be used.
We live in a fast-paced world full of stress and surprises. Remember that taking care of your mental health is an investment in the future. After all, the more effectively we respond to changes, the greater the chances for positive development in all areas of our lives.
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useful books
“How to win friends and influence people” Dale Carnegie is a classic book that teaches you how to deal with stress, anxiety, and how to communicate confidently with people. “How to stop worrying and start living”. Dale Carnegie – another useful book by this author on how to get rid of obsessive thoughts and anxiety “From person to person: the problem of being human” Charles Rogers – a book by the founder of humanistic psychology on how to develop self-confidence and respect for others. “Therapeutic Metaphors” milton erickson – a collection of parables and metaphors that will help you better understand yourself and your problems. “Emotional flexibility” susana david is a book about overcoming social anxiety and developing confidence in communication. “The body remembers everything. What role does psychological trauma play in a person’s life and what techniques help to overcome it. Bessel van der Kolk – a book that will help to open and heal the psychological trauma that interferes with a normal life. “How to maintain emotional health in any circumstance” alberto ellis – a book by the founder of REBT (Rational Emotional Behavior Therapy) on how to treat yourself with understanding and care. “I’m fine, you’re fine” Thomas Harris is a bestseller about transactional analysis and accepting yourself as you are.
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