Coping Skills
Name one example of a healthy coping skill or activity.
John has a lot of stress from work. When he gets home, he yells at his roommate to get his frustration out. Is this a healthy coping skill?
No!
Talking with someone is a great coping skill. However, yelling is unhealthy and it may cause issues in our relationships.
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.
True or False: When using Box Breathing, you should be breathing as fast as you can.
False
Name two examples of a healthy coping skill or activity.
Jessica is getting frustrated at her co-worker who keeps making obnoxious noises. To deal with her emotions, she decides to practice a deep breathing exercise rather than immediately yelling. Is this a healthy coping skill?
Yes. It is best for her to calm down so that she can calmly ask her co-worker if they can stop with the noises.
What is a benefit 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
True or False:
Every coping skill is healthy.
FALSE!
Some ways that we learn to cope are not healthy for us! (ex: smoking, drinking, gambling, etc.)
True or False: Giving yourself a compliment is an example of positive self-talk.
True
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.
John is having a disagreement with his brother. they share a room so it is hard for him to not feel angry and lash out. John decides he's going to do some exercise to take his mind off things. Is this a healthy coping skill?
Yes. Exercising can help improve your mood and it is good that John began participating in an activity rather than focusing on the disagreement.
Name an activity you currently do that helps you feel better.
True or False:
Coping skills can only be used to reduce anger?
FALSE!
Coping skills help us work through all our emotions.
A time out is removing self from a situation to regroup and ___ down.
Hint: It is another word for cold
Cool down
Name one example of an unhealthy coping skill or activity..
Richard is at work and he made a mistake. He was in charge of delivering a set of keys and now they are lost. He says that it is his fault and no one else's. He is very upset at himself and spends the rest of the day thinking negative thoughts about himself. Is this a healthy coping skill?
No. Participating in negative self-talk hours after a mistake has occurred is not healthy. Mistakes happen and while it is okay to think about what you could have done better, it is harmful to spend the entire day having negative thoughts about yourself.
What do coping skills help us with?
Coping skills help us work through and process our emotions so that we can reduce the effect that stressors have on our lives.
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!
Name two examples of an unhealthy coping skill or activity. .
Suzie gets angry at her boss. She decides to leave the situation and go for a walk. While on her walk, she stops to talk to other employees and complains about her job and boss. Is this a healthy coping skill?
No!
Going on a walk and leaving the situation is a great way to reduce stress and calm down. However, taking too long of a break and gossiping about her boss to other employeess is not appropriate.
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.