Coping Mechanisms

Does it work long-term?

You might do this a lot and the reason is, you’re human and your old brain (instincts) is designed to survive so you find ways to cope.

Coping mechanisms are strategies we often put up to manage stress, anxiety, trauma or painful emotions. Some coping mechanisms are healthy, most are not.

So you might resolve to watch TV to avoid feeling sad. You might resolve to solitude to cope with the death of a loved one or whatever it is you do to deal with stress and trauma. Drugs can be a coping mechanism too. Avoidance can be a coping mechanism too, you just always avoid the conversation or anything that points to the cause of the stress. The list is endless.

The thing with coping mechanisms is, you are likely to resolve to the unhealthy one first, because it’s easier but it doesn’t solve the problem. Here are some healthy ones…

Talk to someone

Seek support, talking to someone about a stressful event is a great way to ease the stress. Be sure you are talking to someone supportive.

Write

Writing eases stress and anxiety too. Write the story, how you see it, how it ended, how you’d have preferred it ended. Write a blog, write a book, write a journal… Just write. It helps

Exercise and Relaxation

Walking, running, yoga, dancing and any form of sport can be a natural and healthy way to help cope with stress. Relaxation does too. Try a few calming techniques, sitting in nature, meditation, muscle relaxation or any type of relaxation you’re comfortable with. It definitely helps

Humor

When you make light a seemingly disturbing issue, you reduce the amount of stress it might cause you. You provide perspective and prevent the situation from becoming overwhelming.

Problem solving

The best of them all and you should find a way to get here. Unpack the situation, identify the problem and decide on ways to manage or solve it. This eases the stress, put the mind to work and create a sense of hope. Do it with someone if you have to.

If you’re not doing any of these, you might be coping unhealthy.

I hope this helps.

I should write about defense mechanisms tomorrow, because they are not the same.

I hope you read…