Coping is what we do when we are placed in difficult situations, whether they be emotional, mental, or physical. To cope is to be able to ground and stabilize yourself no matter what the circumstances may be. Coping skills are specific strategies that can be used to obtain relief and comfort when faced with hardship and everyone has unique coping skills of their own. Having a list of the specific strategies and skills that work for you can be a powerful way to achieve well-being while in stressful or painful places. While everyone may find comfort in different things, there are also many universally practiced forms of coping. Sometimes broken down into categories, coping skills can be organized in ways that will make it easier to identify what may work for you.
Mindfulness for Calming the Storm
If you are someone who is seeking peace and feel that you just need to breathe, there are options like meditation, yoga, or even performing self-care. These practices help to give our minds and bodies pause and firmly ground us in our surroundings. Even if you are not familiar with them, grounding-activities are easy to do with very little direction involved. For example; you may take a moment to sit and just notice the pattern of your breathing, stretch your arms and legs before performing a new activity, or spend an extra few minutes in the shower.
Reorientation to Change the Pace
Maybe you have an abundance of energy and find it difficult to practice activities that don’t keep your mind and body occupied. It can feel impossible to find respite from our stressors while constantly worrying about them but when trying to take a breath doesn’t work, there are other options. Rather than a pause, it may give you more relief to remain active and refocus your attention on another task rather than on what may be stressing you. When you are overwhelmed emotionally, mentally, and/or physically trying to take on another task may seem daunting so it is important that you have a list of the activities that you know will enjoy and that can successfully redirect your mind. Some options may be to reorganize your closet, go for a walk, or engage in creative expression.
Release and Reset
At times, it may feel like the only thing you need is to let it out. Internalizing and suppressing our feelings and stress typically only amplifies them and it is important to remember that it is okay to release our emotions and that there are healthy ways of doing so. Exercise can be a productive and non-destructive way to release energy and pent-up aggression but so can crying or yelling. However, when letting yourself let go of negative feelings and stress, make sure that you are not harming or passing that stress onto others. Having a designated space where you can safely practice release will give you the ability to do so alone and to leave your stress behind
when you are done.
Comforting Items
Others may even have designated objects that they use to cope. Fidget devices that can keep hands occupied and relieve anxiety have become more popular over the years, but your coping objects can be as simple as a toy from your childhood or a scented cloth that you can carry in your pocket. Having a physical item that you can turn to when you need some relief can be incredibly useful in situations where it isn’t possible to practice other coping skills.
Coping Skills vs. Coping Mechanisms
Coping mechanisms can be any activity or thought we engage in that gives us a sense of relief. However, these mechanisms can often be unhealthy or unproductive. Sometimes it may give us a sense of relief when we fall back into old habits or emotionally detach ourselves, but that relief is temporary and unsustainable. Knowing and adhering to learned coping skills can help navigate you away from the forms of coping that can potentially harm you. It can be hard to avoid unhealthy coping mechanisms when they have become second-nature, so developing coping skills and utilizing them before other unhealthy patterns arise can provide relief while also establishing new patterns that will make you healthier in the future.
When Coping Skills Aren’t Working
No matter how many coping skills you have, how often you use them, or how effectively you do so, there can still be leftover negativity and pain. Sometimes our stress becomes so great that we aren’t able to reorient or reground ourselves in order to feel better. If you are practicing healthy coping skills and still finding little to no relief, there are other options. Coping skills are meant to help us with the day-to-day and we can utilize them completely on our own but when our problems extend beyond that it is always okay to seek help from others. When you’ve done all that you can for yourself and by yourself, the next steps can include talking to loved-ones, getting medical help, or reaching out to support groups.
Coping skills can be effective ways to regulate and manage personal stress but if you are unable to find relief for yourself, it is never too early to reach out. If you are struggling with addiction, recovery, or relapse and are ready for help please call Rancho Milagro at (951) 526-4582. When you feel that you can no longer do it on your own, we’re here to help guide you through recovery. We take a holistic approach to healing and treat the entire person, offering services such as art therapy, massage therapy, nature therapy, and many others. Our facility is home to more than 20 farm and therapy animals and is located in the secluded hills of Temecula, CA. At Rancho Milagro, you will receive attentive and personalized care because we know that there is no one solution to recovery. The skills you learn and the treatment you receive with us will continue to heal you even once you’ve left the ranch.