Healthy or Unhealthy?
Howard gets angry that his computer is not working. Out of frustration he punches the computer and yells.
Is punching the computer and yelling a healthy or unhealthy coping skill?
Unhealthy.
Kathy really wants to talk to another person but does not know what to say. She keeps staring at them because she doesn't know what else to do.
Is this o.k?
No!
You could go up and introduce yourself, ask for help, or begin a conversation in another way.
What is a mindful activity you can practice when feeling upset?
Any mindfulness
You see someone you do not know and you want to talk to them.
Introduce yourself, say hi, etc.
You are dumb!
Michael is reading a book and the chapter he was on made him feel very sad. He let himself cry and then decided to go for a walk to clear his mind.
Is crying and then going for a walk a healthy or unhealthy coping mechanism?
Healthy! It is always ok to cry when you are feeling strong emotions. Going for a walk is a great way to regulate yourself after releasing strong emotions.
Matthew yells "HI!" to everyone he sees coming down the hallway. This can be disruptive to people around him.
Is this o.k. for him to do?
No, he can say hi to people at another time when it is more appropriate.
Give one example of a grounding technique.
Any grounding technique.
Someone is tapping on the table and it is really annoying.
Ask them to stop, wear headphones, go to a different spot, etc.
Please step back, you are too close to me.
OK to say!
Noah was looking forward to guacamole all day, but when he got home he realized his avocado had gone bad. This made him very frustrated. He decided to go to the grocery store to buy more and listened to heavy rock music on the way there.
Was this a healthy or unhealthy response to the situation?
Healthy! He looked for a solution to the problem and used the coping mechanism of listening to music to help relieve his frustration until he could buy another avocado.
George is talking to a co-worker and they say something that hurts his feelings. He interrupts them to ask that they don't make that comment again and explain that it is hurtful.
Is this o.k.?
Yes! You may interrupt people if they are making you uncomfortable
Name a coping mechanism you can use to get out an excess of energy.
Any active coping mechanism.
You are watching a documentary in class and it is really scaring you.
Tell the teacher, ask to leave, put your head down, etc.
I don't want to talk about this.
Ok to say!
Christian became very anxious because the weather was bad on the drive home. She snapped at her coworkers when they asked her questions because she was so stressed.
Was this healthy or unhealthy?
What could she do instead?
Unhealthy! It is not fair to treat others poorly because of your emotions.
She could have used a coping mechanism from the Anxiety section to help her relieve her stress.
Adrian is playing Smash Bros and begins getting really frustrated when he is losing. He decides to take a break and walks away from the game.
Is this o.k.?
Yes!
It is a great idea to remove yourself when you feel yourself getting very frustrated. You can take a break and try again later!
Name a coping mechanism you can use when you feel like you need a break or rest.
Any restful coping mechanism.
Someone in class is not following directions from the teacher and it makes you angry. You really want to yell at them.
Ignore them, distract yourself, ask to go on a lap, etc.
Mrs. Cuozzo I hate this assignment!
Keep in your head
Jessie was playing super math relay and beat everyone! She was so excited that she began yelling at everyone and got really close to their faces. This made others feel uncomfortable.
Was this a healthy was to handle her excitement?
What could she have done differently?
No! It is not ok to invade people's personal space and yell at them- even if you think it is for a good reason.
She could have used a coping mechanism to celebrate and use her energy without getting in other people's faces.
Howard is filming a very important project for his friend. It becomes really boring so he stops filming without telling anyone?
Is this o.k.?
What could he have done instead?
No, you should not drop a commitment you make especially without telling the person.
He needs to work through his boredom or communicate with the people involved.
Name a coping mechanism you can use when you feel very tense and angry.
Any appropriate answer.
You are talking to a friend and begin to get really bored of the conversation.
Ask to change the topic, ask to leave the conversation, use a fidget to say engaged.
I don't like it when you say that to me.