Coping Skills 1
What are Coping Strategies?
A coping strategy is a mechanism to help when there are feelings of stress, anxiety, or other big emotions.
Why do we use non productive/unhealthy coping skills?
Name two coping skills you currently use to deal with stress in your life.
** any answer
TRUE OR FALSE
Everyone has the same coping skills.
FALSE.
What works for me might not work for everyone. Find what works for you!
Name 1 of your unhealthy coping strategies
Can you name 2 Unhealthy Coping Strategies?
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.
Name 1 coping skill you have never used, but would like to try
....
TRUE OR FALSE
My best friend was trying to pick a fight with me, I wanted to yell and scream but instead I chose to go home then to my room and listen to music.
This is a negative coping skill
FALSE.
Leaving the situation before it escalates and listening to music is an example of a positive coping skill.
What are some benefits 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: fighting, eating too much, running from problems, etc.)
Name 1 Benefit of Healthy Coping Strategies
John has a lot of stress from school. When he gets home, he gets easily agitated with his younger brother who asks him "What's wrong?" John gets so anxious from this question that he yells at his brother to get his frustration out.
Is this a healthy coping skill and why or why not?
No!
Talking with someone is a great coping skill. However, yelling is unhealthy and it may cause issues in our relationships.
What are Problem-Focused Coping Strategies?
Aims to change or eliminate the source of your stress. This coping only works if you have some control over the situation.
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.
True or False - Guided meditation is not helpful for stress and anxiety
False; guided meditation can be helpful to calm, ground, and create a relaxing/tranquil state.
How can unhealthy coping skills negatively affect our lives?
Unhealthy Coping Skill: Hurt Ourselves, Hurt Others, Creates Problems, Lost Friendships
True or false:
Exercise is a healthy coping skill
True
Exercise helps you stay healthy mentally, physically, and spiritually.
True or False:
Coping skills are used to avoid problems in our lives.
FALSE!
Coping skills help us work through our problems and emotions. You do not want to avoid these! Avoiding is considered an unhealthy coping skill.
Can you name 2 Healthy Coping Strategies?
What are Emotion-Focused Coping Strategies?
can help you change the way you respond to your stress.
Can you name 2 Emotion-focused Coping Strategies?
- Exercise
- Taking a bath/shower
- Giving yourself a pep talk.
Meditation
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!