Coping Skills
This is something you can do with your breathing to calm your body when you feel overwhelmed.
What is taking deep/slow breaths?
You smile when you feel this
What is happy or excited?
This quality helps someone stay hopeful during a long recovery process
What is ...
- Optimism
- Hope
- Positive thinking
- Resilience
If you can’t find a word, you might do this instead of saying it.
- Describe the word
- Use gestures
- Write it down
This professional provides therapy to improve communication after a stroke.
Who is a speech-language pathologist?
Listening to this can help you relax or feel better
What is music
Your heart beats fast, and you feel worried.
What is Anxious / Nervous?
This strength means you keep trying even when something is difficult or frustrating.
What is...
- Perseverance
- Determination
- Grit
When someone talks too fast, and you don’t understand, you can…
- Ask them to slow down
- Ask them to repeat
- Request clarification
This kind of support comes from people who have gone through similar experiences.
What is...
- Peer support
- Support group
- Aphasia Group
You are trying to speak, and the word won’t come out. Your heart starts beating fast and you feel tense. This coping strategy helps calm your body first.
What is ...
- taking a break/taking your time
- deep breathing
- Relaxing
If someone avoids social situations after a stroke, they may be feeling this
What is embarrassment or anxiety?
This strength allows someone to adapt to life changes after a stroke.
What is Resilience, Adaptability, Flexibility?
When reading or listening is hard, this strategy can help you focus on key words or pictures.
- Use visual cues
- Highlight keywords
- Look for context clues
When another group member feels discouraged, you can…
- Offer encouragement
- Listen
- Share a positive memory
This long-term coping strategy involves setting small, realistic goals to build confidence over time.
What is ...
- Goal setting
- Planning
- Working step by step
This feeling may occur when a person mourns the loss of their abilities or lifestyle.
What is ...
- Grief
- Sadness
- Loss
This strength involves asking for help when you need it.
What is Confidence, Self-advocacy, Asking for help, Speaking up
This strategy gives your brain extra time to process what someone said before responding.
What is...
- Allowing processing time
- Waiting before answering
- Pausing/Taking a deep breath
This helps create a safe and supportive environment in a group.
What is ...
- Encouragement
- Listening
- Patience
- Kindness/Compassion
This coping strategy involves planning ahead for situations that may be challenging.
What is preparation/planning?
After a stroke, some people may experience ongoing sadness, low energy, loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed, changes in sleep, and feelings of hopelessness that last for weeks and affect daily life. This mental health condition may require professional support.
What is depression?
This strength means believing you can continue to improve over time.
What is Confidence, Belief in self, Growth mindset?
This involves telling others how they can help you communicate better.
What is?
- Self-advocacy
- Explaining needs
- Asking for support
- Communication
This is important for recovery because it allows others to help you effectively.
- Asking for support
- Self-advocacy
- Communicating needs