Mental Health Coping Skills
Coping skills that focuses on your breath
Breathing exercises
not telling the truth to your supports when they ask you about something
lying
meetings at the hospital that are facilitated by hospital staff to support your mental health, substance use recovery, life skills, positive coping, etc.
Outpatient Groups
peer led community meetings and recovery support groups
AA/NA/Celebrate Recovery/life recovery/mutual aid groups
coping skill - engaging in services that support your mental health/substance use recovery
engaging in treatment/coming to groups/coming to appointments
coping skill that guides you to focus on the present moment
mindfulness/meditation
avoiding spending time with people who care about you, not going to work, not leaving the house
isolating
meeting one on one with staff who have experience with mental health and substance use recovery to process trauma/life stressors, learn/discuss coping skills, receive social support, etc.
Peer Support Specialists/PSS
reducing how much you use, reducing how frequently you use, using clean needles, using in a safe environment, etc.
harm reduction
coping skill - talking about your experiences , stressors, etc. with others
sharing your story
coping skill where you write about what you are thinking, feeling, or what stressors you are facing
journaling
not eating meals regularly, not taking showers/baths, not brushing teeth, not washing or changing clothes, drinking water
hygiene maintenance/taking care of your physical health
staff that helps connect you to community resources housing, food, medical care, employment resources, etc.
Case Manager/TCM
establishing limits regarding what you are and are not comfortable with and communicating these limits to others.
setting boundaries
warning sign - using a substance again after not using it for a while.
lapse/relapse/return to use
saying positive things about yourself, reminding yourself of positive traits you have or positive things you have done.
positive affirmations
seeing something that is distressing, experiencing something that is distressing, being in places or around people that have a negative impact on you
triggers
meeting one on one with behavioral health staff to process trauma/life stressors, learn/discuss coping skills, receive social support, etc.
Therapy/counseling/
finding new activities that you enjoy to spend your time doing, learning new skills, filling your time in a safe positive way
new hobbies
coping skill - naming what you are feeling
identifying your emotions
Coping skill that focuses on what you can see, hear, smell, touch, and taste.
5-4-3-2-1 grounding technique
having thoughts that you would be better off dead, that no one cares about you, that you don't matter, thoughts about ending your life, feeling hopeless about anything ever getting better etc.
suicidal thoughts/suicidal ideation
meeting one on one with a medical provider to discuss symptoms and medications that may help manage symptoms
Psych Appointment
taking ownership of your actions, acknowledging the impact of things that you have done, being honest about setbacks/struggles you face
accountability/holding yourself accountable
warning sign - desire to use again
cravings