Healthy Coping Skills
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
-Journaling
(Create your own answers)
What are "I Statements?"
“I” statements are a simple way of speaking that will help you avoid this trap by reducing feelings of blame. A good “I” statement takes responsibility for one’s own feelings, while tactfully describing a problem. The formula is “I feel [emotion word] when [explanation]."
Which of the following is a benefit of using healthy coping skills?
a.) They reduce stress
b.) They allow us to create better relationships
c.) They allow us to have a healthy mind and body
d.) All of the above
d.) All of the above
True or False:
Talking to others about problems in our lives is a healthy coping skill.
TRUE!
Talking to others allows us to share our emotions and problems so that we do not have to go through them alone.
How many Americans live with a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression
About 1 in every 20
Which of the coping skills below are unhealthy:
Getting fresh air
Talking to a trusted friend/adult
Destroying property
Hair pulling
Exercising
Playing sports
Biting
Yelling at someone
- Destroying Property
- Hair pulling
- Biting
- Yelling at someone you don't like
Name two unhealthy coping skills.
- indulging too much in one activity (especially if unhealthy activity)
- Sleeping too much
- Eating too much
- Avoiding the problem
- Denial of the problem or minimizing the issue
-Pushing symptoms away
-Ignoring the red flags/warning signs
What are some benefits that you have experienced from using healthy coping skills?
- Feeling more relaxed
- Having a clear mind to help solve your problems
- Creating healthy relationships with others
- Being able to think about your response to a situation.
-Seeing a different perspective on a situation.
- Working through the obstacles rather than avoiding them.
True or False:
Every coping skill is healthy.
FALSE!
Some ways that we learn to cope are not healthy for us! (ex: fighting, eating too much, running from problems, etc.)
How many people have a mental health condition globally?
A. 900 thousand
B. 450 million
C. 100 million
D. 55 million
B. 450 million
Healthy coping skills help us:
a.) Deal with stressors in our lives
b.) Work through our emotions and problems
c.) Process our thoughts and emotions
d.) All of the above
d.) All of the above
Using healthy coping skills allow us to take a minute and process what is happening with our emotions, stressors, thoughts, and problems.
What Are Positive Affirmations?
Give an example of a positive affirmation for yourself.
Positive affirmations can be defined as positive phrases or statements that we repeat to ourselves. Generally they are used to manifest goals, dreams, or experiences we desire.
Exercise is a great coping skill that is good for your mind, body, and ____ .
Soul
Exercise helps you stay healthy mentally, physically, and spiritually.
True or False:
Coping skills are only used to avoid problems in our lives.
FALSE!
Coping skills help us work through our problems and emotions (you do not want to avoid these!) Avoiding is considered an unhealthy coping skill.
What is the most common mental health condition in the United States?
A. Eating Illnesses
B. Schizophrenia
C. Depression
D. Epilepsy
C. Depression
Describe mindfulness.
Mindfulness is when you center yourself in the present moment. It can be done through meditation, relaxation exercises, or just simply slowing down and taking notice of things that are currently around you.
How can you turn the following negative thought into a positive one?
*I should have pushed myself harder on that task; I'm so stupid and I always fail, so what is the point? *
Next time i will start the task earlier so I have time to alter/change it
I will get back up again and do my best next time.
I am smart and talented and grateful to be given another opportunity.
No one person is perfect what matters is picking myself up and learning from my mistakes so that I can avoid this.
What coping skills can be used to reduce stress?
Some examples, but answers will vary...
- meditation
- talking with someone
- breathing exercises
- exercise
- mindfulness
- yoga
-meditation
-reading a good book
-laughing at jokes
-watching a movie to express some emotion.
True or False:
Coping skills help you focus on the important things in your life.
TRUE!
When we can cope with problems in our lives, it is easier to focus on everything else that is important to us!
Suicide is the___leading cause of mortality in the United States among those aged 10 To 34
Name three things that you can journal about.
- Your Feelings (sad, happy, mad, motivated, etc.)
- Thoughts
- Favorite Activities
- Goals
- Future Events
True or False:
Coping skills are only important to use when I'm at Buffalo Psychiatric Center?
False.
What do coping skills help us with?
Coping skills help us work through and process our emotions in helpful adaptive ways, so that we can reduce the unhelpful/negative ways that stressors impact our daily lives.
True or False:
Coping skills are NOT important to your well-being.
FALSE!
Coping skills create a sense of calmness, confidence, and inner-peace. They are important for your overall health.
All people who have a mental health condition are violent.
What happens when we do not use our coping skills?
We express our emotions in unhelpful ways/we do not process our thoughts and feelings in a healthy way.
(1) What is a crisis plan? (2) Why is a crisis plan important?
(1) personalized/individualized tool that helps us know our early warning signs (triggers - thoughts, feelings, behaviors) (2) helps us to manage distress (or when we are feeling emotionally overwhelmed); also allows us to know what to avoid when overwhelmed, what to do to avoid going into a crisis, who to reach out to support, and helps remind me of my internal coping strategies that work best in the moment.
Tell me something you do to get out of the red (danger) zone when feeling overwhelmed. (HINT: Think of your coping skills.)
There is no wrong answer-Make up your own!
True or False:
Unhealthy (or "negative") coping skills are still coping skills
True!
There are both healthy and unhealthy coping skills; the key is to increase our insight and become more aware of which ones are helpful and which ones are not (and utilize healthy ones.)
Create your own!
Answer will vary.