Types of Coping Skills
What type of coping uses things like TV, games, cleaning, and reading to help give you a break from stressful situations?
Distraction
What decision-making strategy uses little thought or examination, and is like taking a "leap before you look"?
Impulsive
One of the most harmful responses to distressing emotional experiences is _________.
Avoidance
What are the 3 different areas of wellbeing?
Physical, Mental/Emotional/Spiritual, Social Life/Family/Relationships, Professional Life/Work/Career (answer is correct if any of the terms are identified; extra 100 if the 4th is identified)
What are 2 examples of negative coping skills?
Substance abuse, self-harm, avoidance, negative self-talk, emotional eating, isolation, procrastination, overworking, aggression, excessive screen time.
What type of coping uses the body and our senses to keep us in the present and promote relaxation?
Grounding
What decision-making strategy lets someone else decide, follows someone else's plans, and has a "whatever you say" attitude?
Passive
What are the two primary benefits of safety behaviors that leads us to keep using them?
Temporary relief AND belief that they can prevent something bad from happening
Name 1 activity you do to promote physical wellbeing, and 1 that could or is harmful.
Answers related to diet, exercise, sleep, and reducing stress (e.g., breathing, time in nature, etc.) are correct, though some may need justification.
What is the primary reason why we use negative coping skills?
Instant relief of stress symptoms.
When we yell, take a cold shower, watch something really funny, hit a punching bag, or turn up the music and dance, we are using what type of coping?
Emotional Release
What decision-making strategy postpones thought or actions, choosing rather to "decide later".
Delaying
Identify at least 2 different ways you engage in safety behavior.
Any answer that involves doing something to avoid activities, situations, objects, bodily reactions, or negative thoughts/memories/emotions are correct as long as they can explain what is being avoided.
Name 1 activity you do to promote mental/emotional/spiritual wellbeing, and 1 that could or is harmful.
Taking time to do things you enjoy, give and receive affection, feel understood/gratitude/hope, taking interest and/or finding meaning in life, creative expression, treating self with kindness, prioritizing dreams/goals.
What makes positive coping skills positive?
Promotes emotional processing/regulation, enhances effective problem-solving, develops self-sufficiency (confidence, worth, esteem, etc.), provides short-term and long-term relief from stress.
What type of coping uses techniques like writing down negative thoughts and reasons they may not be true help us cope, or imaging what kind of advice we would give someone we love when they have negative thoughts?
What decision-making strategy lets things play out on their own, leaving it up to fate as if "it's all in the cards".
Fatalistic
What safety behavior involved frequently checking in with someone to make sure things are the way we think they are?
Seeking reassurance/approval
Name 1 activity you do to promote wellbeing in your social life/family/relationships, and 1 that could or is harmful.
Having someone who listens to you, feeling comfortable to ask for help, being able to say no, having support from family/friends, spending time with people that make you happy/laugh and/or share common interests.
Make at least one goal to address a negative coping skill you use that you can want to accomplish in the next 6 months.
Must be able/willing to adjust towards being more SMART.
What type of coping uses activities like massages, eating favorite foods, taking bubble baths or long showers?
Self Love/Care
What are the four remaining decision-making strategies not already mentioned?
Agonizing, Stuck, Intuitive, and Planning
What are the different downsides, cons, and/or problems related to use of safety behaviors?
We never learn if the perceived threat is actually a threat. We do not learn the various skills that would help us get through and cope with the situation in a healthy manner, or even effectively prevent such situations from occurring in the future. We begin to falsely misattribute feeling safe to use of the safety behavior, becoming dependent on them.
Make at least one SMART goal to improve wellbeing in any area that you can accomplish in the next week.
Must explain how the goal is SMART, or be able/willing to adjust to make it SMART.
Make at least one SMART goal to improve positive coping that you can accomplish in the next week.
Must explain how the goal is SMART, or be able/willing to adjust to make it SMART.