Fun Facts
Anything you do when you have big emotions and you are trying to make them go away
What are coping skills
What do we call talking about it, asking for help, painting, exercising, listening to music, petting a cat, taking a break?
Healthy coping skills.
What are examples of unhealthy coping skills?
Hitting someone or something, denial, isolation, all or nothing thinking, blaming
Consequences of using healthy coping skills.
What is feeling better, physical grounding, and being able to use the "thinking brain."
Tony felt embarrassed at school when his classmates made fun of him for messing up his words when it was his time to read. Tony accepted that he was feeling embarrassed, asked his teacher to help him after school, and listened to music to feeling better
What healthy coping skills did Tony use?
Recognized a trigger/ big emotion, asked for help and listened to music
Everyone uses these to try and feel better
What are coping skills
Things that a person teaches themselves or decides to practice that can help them process their emotions or move on from difficult situations.
What are healthy coping skills?
What do unhealthy coping skills do?
Make you feel worse and can get you into trouble
What does self-isolation (being alone a lot) looks like as a coping strategy.
What is distancing yourself from loved ones and refusing to ask for help, usually to avoid awkward situations or to conserve mental and emotional energy.
Michael felt embarrassed after he tripped and fell in the hallway. He and his friend go into a fight because his friend said it was his fault for walking fast.
What unhealthy coping skills was being used here?
Avoiding feeling, fighting, irritation.
Examples of healthy coping skills.
What is...
deep breathing, body squeezes, asking a trusted person for help, drawing or doodling, exercising, listening to music...
When should you use healthy coping skills.
What is when you begin to feel overwhelmed, when you experience a triggering event, or when you think using the coping skill will help improve your mood.
What should you start to do if you continue using unhealthy coping skills?
Consequences of using maladaptive coping skills.
What is social conflict, declines in physical health and functioning, and feeling worse over time.
Brittney said that if was not the best player on her basketball team she must be the worst. What unhealthy coping skill was Brittney using?
All or nothing thinking or rigid thinking (not flexible).
How someone learns an unhealthy or maladaptive coping skill.
What is learning from example and using natural bodily processes and instincts - it worked before!
In which ways can we organize healthy coping skills to make it easier to remember to use them.
What are coping skills cheat sheet and coping skills tool box?
Reasons coping skills can be classified as "unhealthy."
What is that they interfere with daily functioning and emotional regulation, they cause additional long-term complications, and/or they are not sustainable.
Negative consequences when not using healthy coping skills.
What is social discomfort, physical withdrawal symptoms, increased feelings of distress.
Aliyah was feeling nervous because she heard rumors that her good friend did not like her anymore. She decided to write about her feelings in her journal.
What type of coping skill is this?
Journaling/ writing, recognizing the emotion
How a person unlearns maladaptive coping skills.
What is practicing healthy replacements, and paying attention to what your body is telling you.
Clues to that it is time to start applying coping skills and strategies.
What are feelings of physical activation (racing heartbeat, trouble breathing) feelings of fear or anxiety (wanting to hide or escape, an impulse to be mean or aggressive), or being unable to enjoy activities.
Why people use unhealthy or maladaptive coping skills.
What is because they've "worked" in the past or served some purpose, usually for survival through difficult situations.
Positive consequences (results!) for using healthy coping skills.
What is feeling emotional regulation, a sense of accomplishment and confidence, improved mood and energy level.
Brandon was feeling angry at school today and claimed that everyone was being too loud and annoying. What type of coping skill should Brandon use?
Taking a break, talking to a trusted adult, deep breathing, filtering thoughts.