Coping skills aren’t just for coping
By Patricia McGuire, LPC-MHSP
What exactly are coping skills? And what is the purpose of coping skills? Coping skills are tools we can use in stressful situations to regulate our thoughts, bodily responses, and emotions. For example, if you get nervous before a big presentation, you can use deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or getting a drink of water as coping skills to ease the intensity of your stress.
Just like in this example, coping skills are often useful for decreasing sufffering when navigating a difficult situation. Coping skills help us manage our nervous system, assess our internal world (thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations), and apply self-care.
But, coping skills aren’t just for coping - coping skills are for thriving.
Coping skills can be beneficial to practice all the time, not just when we’re distressed. With that in mind, I’d like to reframe coping skills as ongoing wellness practices that help us feel more integrated - in ourselves, in our experience, and in our relationships.
Here are 3 coping skills you can try this week:
1) Deep breathing: set a timer for 60 seconds (or more), close your eyes, and slowly breathe in and out, focusing only on the sensation of breathing.
2) Take a technology-free walk outside: leave your phone, iPod, etc. at home and take a walk, immersing yourself in the sensations of being outside.
3) Name your emotions: check in with yourself at the beginning, middle, and end of the day by simply naming your emotion and/or physical sensation.
By implementing “coping skills” throughout the day, you will increase your competency to readily apply these tools when you become overwhelmed. This also gives yourself space to feel more centered and self-aware in your daily life.
If this resonated with you and you’d like to explore these ideas further, connect with Patricia McGuire Counseling here
