After tragedy, who bounces back? Keys to resiliency may lie in childhood

Why are some people better able to recover from tragedy and trauma than others? According to emerging research on the biology of resilience, an individual’s ability to recover from traumatic events may depend on a combination of factors such as early life experiences, genetics and brain chemistry. For some, like mom Stephanie Decker, who became a double amputee after surviving a tornado, it is possible to bounce back from tragic events with the determination to make the seemingly impossible possible. For others, like Cheryl Sharp, who suffers from mental illness and other health concerns, the ability to recover doesn’t come as easily. A program called the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) helps Sharp to manage her recovery, demonstrating that even those who are not as resilient as others can take positive steps toward recovery. “Some of us are born with greater resilience than others, but it can also be learned, nurtured and developed,” says Sharp. “A person can rebuild [a] difficult moment as a strength and recognize they’re more than their losses or experiences.”

NBC News, 6/2/13