We all go through stress in our lives. Whether it is the loss of a job or a loved one, or frustration from school or work, it is part of the human experience. Coping is the process of adapting to the changes in our lives. How do you respond to change?

High levels of stress might lead to sleepless nights, abdominal pain, headaches, anxiety or even depression. You might have noticed that you are stressed in one area of your life, it can overflow into other areas. Stress at school might lead to tension in your relationships. Relationship conflict could impact your social functioning. Maybe you’ve been worried about a test and noticed that you shut yourself off from others.

This is all normal and practicing intentional coping skills can help increase your self-esteem, life satisfaction, and internal resilience.

Coping skills or coping mechanisms are simply the way we respond to stress in our lives. Maybe you de-stress through exercise: taking a walk, playing basketball, going for a hike, or dancing. Creative outlets can serve others, like painting or knitting. Comfort food can be a response to stress.

Clinically speaking, there are both positive coping skills and maladaptive coping skills, which is basically a way of saying that some coping skills are better than others. For instance, eating a favorite food can be a way to find relief but if you’re constantly eating to cope with chronic stress it can have worse side-effects. Similarly, exercise in excess can be damaging as well. And of course, the perhaps more notorious maladaptive coping mechanisms of drugs, alcohol or self-harm.

All of these coping strategies stem from an understandable desire for relief from stress. Over the course of each of our lives, we have stumbled upon activities that grant us relief from our daily stressors. You might even have a set stress-response strategy: if work gets too frustrating, I’ll go for a walk; after an exhausting day, I like to have a drink with some friends; I have a cup of tea before bed to help me sleep. Naming and identifying these patterns can be powerful in helping react when you recognize you feel stressed.

In moments of heightened emotion, it can be difficult to think of any way to return to equilibrium. Coping skills can give you some distance to unwind from that distress. Allowing yourself to relax for even a moment to release that tension allows you to return to your present task and adapt your approach.

The good news is that these skills can be used anywhere and can be adapted to any environment. Bringing a stress ball to sit at your work desk, keep a couple pieces of chocolate on hand, treat yourself to a coffee, spend time with a friend.

How do coping skills differ from “self-care” practices? The truth is that there is significant overlap. Self-care practices prioritize taking care of yourself and personal wellbeing. It is an intentional, sometimes splurgy, break from your normal routine, like going to a spa or on vacation. It can also be doing something purely because it brings you joy: purchasing something lavish or taking a mental health day.

The function of these things is ultimately the same: to help find relief from stress and promote resilience. Coping skills can be integrated into your daily life, no matter how busy you are. You’ve likely already developed your own coping strategies, but the good news is that we’re here to help.

Not sure what skills to try? Check out this link for 99 Coping Skills to explore some other possibilities.

Click here to schedule a 15-minute consultation with our client concierge to learn more about online therapy.

Not sure if tele-health is the right fit for you? Curious how movement can be incorporated into therapy? Check out some of our other blogs:

What are the benefits of online therapy? | The Language of Your Body: Using Movement/Dance Therapy | Internal Family Systems: Understanding Your Inner World

Coping Skills: What are they and how do they work?