The COVID-19 pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges to individuals worldwide, demanding the rapid development and utilization of coping mechanisms to navigate the recurring waves of uncertainty and disruption. Coping mechanisms are mediated by personality traits, cognitive schemes and developed perceptions. They are activated in states of stress, danger or events such as the COVID-19 period. Our study employing a network analysis approach sheds light on the coping mechanisms utilized during the recurring periods of the COVID era among a convenience sampling of 403 respondents in Romania. The findings highlight that substance use emerges as the most destabilizing factor within the pandemic resilience network, while the use of instrumental support exhibits the highest expected influence, offering valuable insights into the adaptive and maladaptive strategies that shape the Romanian population's resilience during these challenging times.They highlight the complex interplay of coping strategies and the need for tailored interventions that consider the influential positions and susceptibilities of specific coping mechanisms within the context of recurring COVID-19 waves.