Healthy Coping Skills
Name 3 healthy coping skills.
What is?
- Read a Book
- Writing/Drawing/Painting
- Listening to Music
- Spending Time with Friends/Family
- Go for a Walk/Pacing
- Deep Breathing
- Meditation/Mindfulness/Pleasant Imagery
-Journaling
-Grounding
-Fidgets
-Dancing/Singing/Rapping
-Puzzles/Rubik's Cubes/Games
-Watching a movie
What are "I Statements?"
What is?
“I” statements are a simple way of speaking that will help you avoid this trap by reducing feelings of blame. A good “I” statement takes responsibility for one’s own feelings, while tactfully describing a problem. The formula is “I feel [emotion word] when [explanation]."
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
What is?
d.) All of the above
True or False:
Talking to others about problems in our lives is a healthy coping skill.
What is?
TRUE!
Talking to others allows us to share our emotions and problems so that we do not have to go through them alone.
Bonus:
What did the mama cow say to the calf?
What is?
It's pasture bedtime!
Bonus: How many Americans live with a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression (Take a guess)
What is?
About 1 in every 25
Which of the coping skills below are unhealthy:
Getting fresh air
Talking to a trusted friend/adult
Destroying property
Hair pulling
Exercising
Playing sports
Taking feelings out on others
Biting
Yelling at someone
What is?
- Destroying Property
- Hair pulling
- Taking Feelings Out on Others
- Biting
- Yelling at someone you don't like
Name two unhealthy coping skills.
What is?
- indulging too much in one activity (especially if unhealthy activity)
- Sleeping too Much
- Eating too Much
- Denial of the problem or MINIMIZING the issue
-Fighting/Self-initiated/ Not employment
-Using substances
-Running away
-Self-harming behaviors
-Punching walls
-Isolating
-Shutting down
What are some benefits that you have experienced from using healthy coping skills?
What is?
- 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.
-Seeing a different perspective on a situation.
- Working through the obstacles rather than avoiding them.
True or False:
Every coping skill is healthy.
What is ?
FALSE!
Some ways that we learn to cope are not healthy for us! (ex: fighting, eating too much, running from problems, etc.)
Bonus:
Why did the jaguar eat the tightrope walker?
What is?
It was craving a well-balanced meal.
Bonus:(Take a guess)
As of 2019, How Many People Have A Mental Health Condition Globally?
A. 300 million
B. 970 million
C. 100 million
D. 550 million
What is?
B. 970 million
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
What is?
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.
What Are Positive Affirmations?
Give an example of a positive affirmation for yourself.
What is?
Positive affirmations can be defined as positive phrases or statements that we repeat to ourselves. Generally they are used to manifest goals, dreams, or experiences we desire.
Exercise is a great coping skill that is good for your mind, body, and ____ .
What is?
Soul
Exercise helps you stay healthy mentally, physically, and spiritually.
True or False:
Coping skills are used to avoid problems in our lives.
What is?
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.
Bonus:
What do you call a fake noodle?
What is?
An impasta!
Bonus: (Take a guess)
What Is The Most Common Mental Illness In The United States?
A. Eating Illnesses
B. Schizophrenia
C. Depression
D. Epilepsy
What is?
C. Depression
Describe mindfulness. Is it a coping skill?
What is?
Mindfulness is when you center yourself in the present moment. It can be done through meditation, relaxation exercises, or just simply slowing down and taking notice of things that are currently around you.
Yes, it is a coping skill!
How can you turn the following negative thought into a positive one?
*I should have pushed myself harder on that task; I'm so stupid and I always fail so what is the point.*
What is?
I did the best I could with the task. This will motivate me to go harder next time.
Next time I will start the task earlier, so I have time to alter/change it.
I will get back up again and do my best next time.
I am smart and talented and grateful to be given another opportunity.
No one person is perfect what matters is picking myself up and learning from my mistakes so that I can avoid this.
What coping skills can be used to reduce stress?
What is?
Some examples, but answers will vary...
- meditation
- talking with someone/processing
- breathing exercises/Deep breathing
- exercise
- mindfulness/ Pleasant imagery
- yoga
-reading a good book
-laughing at jokes
-watching a movie to express some emotion.
-Spending time with family or friends
-Playing a game
-Listening to music
-Building things
True or False:
Coping skills help you focus on the important things in your life.
What is ?
TRUE!
When we can cope with problems in our lives, it is easier to focus on everything else that is important to us!
Bonus:
What’s the difference between a guitar and a fish?
What is?
You can tune a guitar but you can’t tuna fish.
Bonus (Take a guess )
Suicide Is The___leading Cause of Mortality in the United States Among Those Aged 15 To 34
What is?
Name three things that you can journal about.
What is?
- Your Feelings (sad, happy, mad, motivated, etc.)
- Thoughts
- Favorite Activities
- Goals
- Future Events
Kim gets into a fight with her boss over a project. She decides to leave the situation and go for a walk. Is this a healthy coping skill?
What is?
Yes!
Going on a walk and leaving the situation is a great way to reduce stress and calm down.
Don't ever walk away from a conversation without letting the other person know you need a pause, and that the conversation can be continued later once the tension has settled a bit.
What do coping skills help us with?
What is?
Coping skills help us work through and process our emotions so that we can reduce the effect that stressors have on our lives. (Helps us regulate)
True or False:
Coping skills are not important to your well-being.
What is?
FALSE!
Coping skills create a sense of calmness, confidence, and inner-peace. They are important for your overall health.
Bonus:
What did one plate say to the other?
What is?
Dinner is on me!
Bonus (Take a guess)
People Who Have Mental Illness Are Often Violent
What is?
What happens when we do not use our coping skills?
What is?
We express our emotions negatively, have outbursts/tantrums, do not process feelings or thoughts in a healthy way
Why do we turn to the easiest way out?
What is?
Because it's the Easiest and least painful way out of most situations.
Because we don't want to face the problem.
What is something that you do that is a benefit or adds value to your life?
What is?
Answers will vary...
True or False:
Unhealthy coping skills are still coping skills
What is?
True!
There are both healthy and unhealthy coping skills; the key is to know which are which and utilize the healthy ones.
Bonus:
What do Alexander the Great and Winnie the Pooh have in common?
What is?
The same middle name.
Bonus:(Take a guess)
What causes mental illness?
What is?