Healthy Coping
What is a coping skill?
Activities, strategies, or thoughts we use to process our emotions
What does emotional regulation mean?
Recognizing, understanding, and managing your emotions.
What is a healthy boundary?
A limit that protects your well-being and communicates what you are comfortable with.
What does it mean to react instead of respond?
Reacting is acting on an emotion immediately, while responding involves thinking before acting.
Define "healthy coping skills".
Coping skills that are healthy and not harmful to you or others.
What is an emotional trigger?
Something that causes a strong emotional response.
What does assertive communication mean?
Expressing your thoughts and feelings clearly and respectfully.
What is one sign that you need to walk away from an argument?
You are yelling, becoming physically tense, interrupting, or struggling to listen.
Define "unhealthy coping skills".
Coping skills that are unhealthy or harmful to you or others, and/or keep you from effectively addressing your needs
What is mindfulness, and how can practicing it help you manage stress or overwhelming emotions?
BONUS: How can deep breathing help you practice mindfulness?
Mindfulness is paying attention to the present moment without judgment. It can help reduce stress, increase self-awareness, and prevent impulsive reactions.
BONUS: Deep breathing helps you focus on the present moment, slow down your body's stress response, and calm your mind before reacting to a situation.
What should you do if someone refuses to respect a boundary you have communicated?
Reinforce the boundary, limit the interaction if needed, and seek support if necessary.
Why is taking a break during an argument not the same as ignoring the problem?
It allows you to calm down so you can return and address the issue more effectively.
When should you practice coping skills?
When you're calm. Practicing when you're calm will help create patterns. If coping skills are not practiced, they are unlikely to help when you are experiencing strong thoughts or emotions
What is the difference between controlling your emotions and controlling your behavior?
You cannot always choose what you feel, but you can choose how you respond to those feelings.
You have communicated a boundary to a friend, but they continue crossing it. They tell you that you're being too sensitive. How can you respond while maintaining your boundary?
*Responses May Vary
Someone keeps pushing your buttons even after you ask them to stop. What can you do to avoid an outburst?
Maintain your boundary, disengage, take space, and seek help if necessary.
What are some unhealthy coping skills?
- Taking Feelings Out on Others
- Stress Eating
- Substance Use
- Self-isolating
- Yelling or Screaming
Name 3 healthy coping skills
Read a Book, Writing/Drawing/Painting, Listening to Music, Spending Time with Friends/Family, Go for a Walk, Deep Breathing, Meditation, talking to someone you trust, Journaling
During an argument, someone interrupts you repeatedly and dismisses your feelings. How can you communicate your perspective without escalating the disagreement?
*Responses may vary
You become so frustrated that you slam a door, yell, or say hurtful things. After calming down, what are three steps you can take?
Take responsibility, apologize for your behavior, and identify a healthier response for next time.