Explain It
Why are coping skills helpful?
Helps you learn how to handle your emotions
What is a trigger?
Anything that might cause a person to be remembered of an experience
Varies.
What is a healthy coping skill you used this week? Unhealthy?
Varies
You are sitting in class working and notice someone is tapping their pencil really loud.
Yes! This can be frustrating, but you have to learn to deal with things beyond your control.
What are some coping skills you use and would like to try using?
What is...
What are some examples of triggers?
A place, person, item, or smells are some examples
True or false: If someone is already stressed, they may be more sensitive to their triggers.
True!
What is a mindfulness practice that can help you calm your body and mind?
belly breathing or deep breaths, meditation, body scans, etc.
You just finished a test that was draining and more difficult than you expected.
Yes! You have to find a way to continue to push forward in your day despite being drained.
Who could benefit from using coping skills?
Everyone!
True or False: Triggers can only create negative experiences and emotions?
False.
True or false: Regularly doing self care can reduce our overall stress levels.
True!
What is the difference between an unhealthy coping skill and a healthy coping skill? Extra points for examples :)
They are both coping skills and therefore alleviate your negative feelings, however, the difference is...
Unhealthy Coping Skills only help to relieve your depression, anxiety, or stress while you're doing it or for the short term and may have negative impacts if used too often. (examples- substance use, self-harm, overeating, bullying or harming others, or too much screen time.)
Healthy Coping Skills help relieve your depression, anxiety, or stress for the longer and may have long-term benefits. (examples- exercise, finding hobbies and interests, being outside, walking, communicating your feelings to yourself and others, mindfulness practices.)
Your little brother is running around and unplugs the video game by accident while you are in the middle of a game.
Yes! It was an accident, and while it can be frustrating, your response will either escalate or deescalate the situation.
What makes something a coping skill?
It helps you to calm down to handle a stressful situation
Why is it helpful to identify what your triggers are?
If you know what your triggers are, you can be more prepared to handle them.
How might stress affect our physical health?
Stomachaches, headaches, lowered immune system, high blood pressure, poor quality of sleep, etc.
When does watching tv, scrolling social media, sleeping, etc become an unhealthy coping tool, AND why?
When you are doing it all the time or more than any other coping skills
Because it does not help relieve your depression, anxiety, or stress long term; it only helps in the moment.
Summer break is coming soon. You are concerned that you will not be able to see your friends due to social distancing.
Yes! While this can be isolating, you don't want to spiral into a state of depression from not having much social interactions.
No. Coping skills are learned and must be practiced to use them when needed.
What are the two categories for triggers and give an example of each?
Internal (memories) and external (smell).
How might stress affect our mental health?
Stress might make the symptoms of our diagnosis worse, or cause the onset of a mental health episode.
What are the benefits of unhealthy coping skills?
Short term relief from distressing feelings
You heard a rumor spread about you and you want to confront the person you said it.
Yes! You need to use a coping skill and make sure your calm prior to trying to resolve a conflict and listen to others perspectives.