Defense Mechanisms
Instead of admitting you’re angry at your friend, you loudly insist, “I’m not mad at all"
Denial
You’ve been sticking with the new behavior for months, focusing on avoiding setbacks.
Maintenance
This tiny mammal rolls into a ball when scared and is covered in spines.
Hedgehog
The most streamed song on YouTube
"Baby Shark"
Talking to a trusted friend, family member, or counselor to deal with stress is called…
Seeking support
You fail a math test and then go home and yell at your little brother for no reason.
Displacement
You decide you’re ready and begin making small steps, like setting a quit date or gathering support.
Preparation
Known for its black-and-white fur and love of bamboo, this animal is native to China.
Giant Panda
The first song to reach one billion streams on Spotify
"One Dance" by Drake
Going for a walk, dancing, or playing sports to release frustration is using this coping method.
Physical activity
You tease someone else for being nervous right before a big game, even though you’re the one who’s really anxious.
Projection
This is when you’re actively doing the new behavior, like cutting back, quitting, or trying a new routine.
Action
This small marsupial from Australia sleeps up to 20 hours a day and has a nose shaped like a button.
Koala
This song went viral on TikTok for blending country and rap, featuring a viral “horse” theme.
"Old town Road" by Lil Nas X
Taking deep breaths, counting to 10, or imagining a calm place helps manage stress. This is called…
Stress management
You joke around and make others laugh when you’re actually feeling sad inside.
Humor
At this stage, you don’t think your behavior is a problem at all, even if others do.
Precontemplation
This aquatic mammal is playful, intelligent, and loves to ride waves and do flips.
Dolphin
A K-pop anthem released in 2020 with a retro disco feel that topped global charts and set streaming records.
"Dynamite" by BTS
Writing down your thoughts and feelings when you're going through a hard time.
Journaling
Instead of dealing with how stressed you are, you bury yourself in video games for hours to escape thinking about it.
Avoidance
You start to see the pros and cons of your behavior and think about making a change.
Contemplation
This small, herbivorous marsupial is known as the "happiest animal on the planet" (also, Jaret's favorite animal)
Quokka
The most streamed song on Spotify, and the only song that has surpassed 5 billion streams
"Blinding Lights" by The Weeknd
Ignoring problems and hoping they go away might feel easier, but it’s not healthy. This is called…
Avoidance