Definitions
What is a coping skill ?
Behaviors and thoughts used to manage stress and regulate emotions during challenging situations.
Name 3 Healthy Coping Skills
Reading, Journaling, Listening to Music, Exercising, Meditation, Drawing, Coloring, Deep Breathing, Grounding, etc.
Coping skills are used to avoid problems in our lives
FALSE!! Coping skills help us work through our problems in healthy ways.
Ignoring your emotions will make them go away.
Myth!! Ignoring the problem may increase emotional reactivity
What has keys, but can't open locks?
Define "healthy coping skills"
Coping skills that are not harmful to you or others.
Name 3 Unhealthy Coping Skills
Harming others or yourself, Substance abuse, Avoiding help/denying that you need help, Bottling up feelings, Procrastination, Yelling at others, Destroying Property, Running Away, etc.
We are born with coping skills
FALSE!! All coping skills are learned throughout our entire lives.
People who ask for help are courageous.
Fact!! Asking for help and being vulnerable helps us overcome difficult situations with the support from others and strengthen our relationships.
What candy has the colors red & white
peppermints or candy cane
Define "unhealthy coping skills"
Coping skills that are harmful to you or others & that keep you from addressing your needs effectively.
What kind of coping skill would playing a game or watching TV be? A) Self-soothing B) Relaxation C) Distraction D) Emotional Awareness E) Nothing
C) Distraction
All stressors are within our control.
False!! Not everything is within our control. Let's talk about a few things within and out of our control.
Effective coping skills work instantly and don't require practice in order to see the benefits
Myth!! Coping skills can take time and hard work to be effective.
What candy bar has a "left bar" and a "right bar"?
A Twix
When should you practice coping skills?
ALL THE TIME! Practice creates patterns. If we do not practice, it makes it more challenging to use the coping skill when we will need it most.
What is a coping tool I could make and use to help me choose a skill?
Coping wheel, chart, list, note in phone, post-it in room, etc.
Unhealthy coping skills are still coping skills.
TRUE!! It is important to separate what is healthy from what isn't to make sure we are making the most use of healthy coping skills.
Most coping skills are done alone
Myth!! Some coping skills can be done alone, but many can also be done with a friend or family member. What are a few examples?
What is the only fruit to have seeds on the outside?
A strawberry
What are coping skills used for?
Managing Stress, Regulating Emotions, Decreasing Overstimulation, Overcoming Challenges
Who can you talk to when you feel stressed, overwhelmed, hurt, etc.
Parent, teacher, sibling, friend, etc.
We can get better at coping skills if we practice.
TRUE!! With time and practice, we will always see improvement, even if it doesn't seem like much. Progress > Perfection.
Some coping skills are not as affective for certain individuals than others.
Fact!! Coping skills are unique to everyone; some work better for others. Get to know yourself and be honest.
What comes once in a minute, twice in a moment, but never in a thousand years?
The letter 'M'