Definitions
What is a coping skill?
Behaviors and thoughts used to manage stress and regulate emotions during challenging situations.
Examples of healthy coping skills
Reading
Journaling
Listening to Music
Exercising
Meditation
Coping skills are used to avoid problems in our lives.
FALSE !!
Coping skills help us work through our problems in healthy ways.
Ignoring your emotions will make them go away.
MYTH !!
Ignoring emotions often makes them stronger, leading to increased stress, anxiety, depression, relationship problems, outbursts, digestive problems, and a weakened immune system.
Which of the coping skills below are unhealthy?
Taking a walk
Destroying property
Exercising
Talking to a trusted friend or adult
Yelling at someone
Playing a game
Hair pulling
Destroying property
Yelling at someone
Hair pulling
What are examples of distraction coping skills?
Playing a game
Watching TV
Taking a walk
Reading
Exercising
We are born with coping skills.
FALSE !!
All coping skills are learned throughout our entire lives.
People who ask for help are weak.
MYTH !!
People who ask for help are strong and courageous.
Define "healthy coping skills."
Coping skills that are not harmful to you or others.
What are examples of self-soothing coping skills?
Taking a bath/shower
Listening to music
Fidgets/Stress balls
Coloring/Painting
Playing an instrument/Singing
Different kinds of coping skills work for different kinds of people.
TRUE !!
We all come from different backgrounds and have different ways of dealing with our emotions.
Healthy coping skills work instantly and don't require practice.
MYTH!!
Coping skills can take time and hard work to be effective.
Define "unhealthy coping skills."
Coping skills that are harmful to you or others & that keep you from addressing your needs effectively.
Examples of unhealthy coping skills
Harming others or yourself
Substance abuse
Avoiding help/denying that you need help
Bottling up feelings
Procrastination
Unhealthy coping skills are still coping skills.
TRUE !!
It is important to separate what is healthy from what isn't to make sure we are making the most use of healthy coping skills.
Doing homework and communicating with your teachers is not a coping skill.
MYTH !!
It is a coping skill to reduce stress. It builds self-discipline, time management, and problem-solving, leading to feelings of accomplishment. It becomes an unhealthy coping mechanism (avoidance/overwhelm) if it causes significant anxiety, sleep loss, or displaces other healthy activities, turning into a stressor itself rather than a solution.
What are the 3 main functions of a coping skill?
1. Manage Stress
2. Regulate Emotions
3. Overcome Challenges
What are examples of emotional awareness coping skills ?
Journaling
Talking to a trusted friend or adult
Mindfulness
Art/Music
Changing perspective/thoughts
We can get better at coping skills if we practice.
TRUE !!
With time and practice, we will always see improvement, even if it doesn't seem like much. It's about progress, not perfection.
Coping skills that can be used daily are the most effective.
FACT !!
Consistent practice builds resilience and manages stress proactively, preventing escalation.