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We all experience some adversity in life, but what makes some of us better able to walk away from trauma and suffering seemingly unscathed?

Resilience defines our ability to resist adverse outcomes and stems from the Latin word “resilientia,” meaning “to rebound.” More recently, resilience has been viewed by researchers as a dynamic concept rather than an individual trait. Rather than being a static personality trait, resilience is positively affected by systems of support and strong relationships (Denckla et al., 2020; Pearson et al., 2025).

Embracing instability as a natural part of life increases our resilience, according to Dr. Suzan Song, MD, PhD, an internationally recognized humanitarian psychiatrist, anthropologist, and leading advocate for the most vulnerable populations of the world. She explores the true nature of resilience and how readers can cultivate it in their own lives in her book Why We Suffer and How We Heal.

Heather Rose Artushin (HRA): Share a bit about your background and what inspired you to write Why We Suffer and How We Heal.

Suzan Song (SS): As a psychiatrist and humanitarian mental health adviser, I've worked with people across the spectrum of despair – from egregious human rights violations to those who are affected by the more common daily life struggles of grief, loss, and rupture.

I became fascinated by those who could flourish with a sense of grounding, despite the odds; one would assume that human trafficking and hostage would render someone nonfunctional. Yet, I met many who were the opposite. They not only survived, but thrived with a sense of ease and even joy.

I........

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