Definitions
What are coping skills?
Coping skills refer to conscious strategies used to reduce unpleasant emotions.
What is the definition of defense mechanisms?
Psychological strategies that are unconsciously used to protect a person from anxiety arising from unacceptable thoughts or feelings.
Name the protective factors.
Social support, physical health, self-esteem, coping skills, sense of purpose, healthy thinking
Putting off important tasks
Procrastination
What are the 3 main styles of communication?
Passive, aggressive, and assertive
What is the definition of grounding skills?
Exercises that may help you refocus on the present moment to distract yourself from anxious feelings.
How might a person use the defense mechanism of denial as a coping skill?
By blocking external events from awareness, the person can refuse to experience the unpleasant or upsetting event.
Name a way one can use healthy thinking as a protective factor.
Keeping to oneself more than making connections with others.
Isolation
Being emotionally dishonest, indirect, inhibited, self-denying, blaming, apologetic
Passive communication
Name one physical grounding skill.
Using temperature changes, mindful eating, deep breathing, pick up or touch an item, take a short walk, savor a scent, move your body, listen to your surroundings, feel your body, 5-4-3-2-1
This involves an individual attributing their own unacceptable thoughts, feelings, and motives to another person.
Projection
When one believes they have the ability to overcome challenges.
Strong self-esteem
What is the definition of unhealthy coping skills?
Being inappropriately honest, direct, expressive, attacking, blaming, controlling, self-enhancing at the the expense of others
Aggressive communication
Name a mental grounding skill.
Play a memory game, think in categories, use math and numbers, recite something, make yourself laugh, use an anchoring phrase, visualize a daily task you enjoy or don't mind doing, describe a common task, imagine yourself leaving the painful feeling behind, describe what's around you
This is an example of someone being mad at their boss then yelling at their partner.
Displacement
*Meaningful involvement in work, education, or other roles
*Understanding one's personal values, and living in accordance with those values
Sense of purpose
Fixating on the worst possible outcome and treats it as likely, even when it is not.
Catastrophizing
What is assertive communication?
**Group discussion
What is the definition of soothing grounding techniques?
Exercises to comfort yourself in times of emotional distress. They can help promote good feeling that may help the negative feelings fade or seem less overwhelming.
The unconscious mechanism to keep disturbing or threatening thoughts from becoming conscious.
How could one's life look if they developed a strong social support?
**Group discussion
Maintaining a 'positive thoughts only' mindset does not help process tough emotions.
Toxic positivity
What can one assert from body language as it relates to communication?
*Group discussion