Healthy Coping Skills
What is a healthy coping skill that can help you relax?
What are the benefits of unhealthy coping skills?
Short term relief from negative feelings.
Coping skills are only used to help you relax. True/False- Why or why not?
False
Managing your stress, anxiety, and/or depression is not always relaxing. Exercise is a great healthy coping skill and is not necessarily relaxing although it results in the relief of negative symptoms.
Why are coping skills helpful?
What is an example of a healthy coping skill you can engage in when you are overwhelmed?
What is an unhealthy coping skill you could replace with a healthy coping skill?
This coping skill involves putting your thoughts and feelings down on paper.
Journaling
Compared to a year ago, what is something you developed/experienced that you are grateful for?
Who can benefit from using coping skills? AND When should they be used?
Everyone! All the time!
What is a healthy coping skill you have used this week?
What is an unhealthy coping skill you use or have used in the past?
Coping skills are only needed when you're struggling with negative emotions.
False
Name 2 things you can do to prevent stress and anger from building up.
Practicing self-care, having a healthy support system, engage in coping skills, acknowledging and processing stressors, getting adequate sleep, eating nutritious foods, etc.
What are some coping skills you use or would like to try using?
What is a healthy coping skill to use when you're feeling lonely and isolated?
What is the difference between an unhealthy coping skill and a healthy coping skill? Extra points for examples of each!
They are both coping skills and therefore alleviate your negative feelings, however, the difference is...
Unhealthy Coping Skills only help to relieve your depression, anxiety, or stress while you're doing it or for the short term and may have negative impacts if used too often. (examples- substance use, self-harm, overeating, bullying or harming others, or too much screen time.)
Healthy Coping Skills help relieve your depression, anxiety, or stress for the longer and may have long-term benefits. (examples- exercise, finding hobbies and interests, being outside, walking, communicating your feelings to yourself and others, mindfulness practices.)
Phrases you can say to yourself to get you through difficult times.
Affirmations, positive self talk, coping statements, mantras
What is an example of one that you would like to practice?
What makes something a "coping skill?"
What is a mindfulness practice that can help you calm your body and mind?
Meditation, belly breathing or deep breaths, body scans, 4-7-8 breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, etc.
What are two emotions that often lead you to engage in unhealthy coping skills?
This type of coping skill utilizes the 5 senses, counting, visualizing, and/or reciting phrases
Grounding techniques
Share a challenge that you are grateful for.
Name one type of grounding technique that can be used as a coping skill.
Meditation, 4-7-8 breathing, 54321 (identifying 5 senses), body scans, progressive muscle relaxation, engaging in any activity that engages any of the senses, etc.