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Coping Defined and Coping Strategies

                                      
Damita JQ

     Coping is defined by the Merriam Webster Desk Dictionary (1995) as the struggle to overcome problems or difficulties. 
    As you read through the Coping Strategies, think about what positive, negative, neutral, and time-out strategies that you use daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly.



COPING STRATEGIES

 

A  Positive coping strategies

B Negative coping strategies

C Neutral coping strategies

D Time-out strategies

Tip: Not all items below can be used in any circumstance.   Some items may appear more than once.  Some of the items below may be positive, negative, or neutral in different sites.  For example: Is watching TV negative, positive, neutral or time out? Why?

COPING STRATEGIES: What do you do when you experience a strong emotion?


  1. Stamp my feet
  2. Think / reflect
  3. Threaten someone
  4. Drink water
  5. Throw a tantrum
  6. Sleep
  7. Telephone a friend
  8. Throw things
  9. Count to 10
  10. Count to 100
  11. Watch TV
  12. Tell a trusted person
  13. Break things
  14. Take deep breaths
  15. Talk to a mental health professional
  16. Scream/yell
  17. Walk away
  18. Play sports
  19. Listen to music
  20. Run
  21. Write in my journal
  22. Try to hurt someone
  23. Tell jokes
  24. Exercise
  25. Punch pillows
  26. Hide
  27. Shop
  28. Take a walk
  29. Shop
  30. Draw / paint
  31. Hug a teddy bear
  32. Read a book
  33. Eat
  34. Gossip
  35. Sit down and think
  36. Help someone
  37. Drink
  38. Play a game
  39. Talk to trusted friend
  40. Ride a bike
  41. Be with friends
  42. Go see a movie
  43. Talk to myself
  44. Clean my house
  45. Curse
  46. Exercise
  47. Feel sorry for myself
  48. Try mediation
  49. Sing
  50. Box
  51. Cry
  52. Stare at people
  53. Become silent
  54. Develop an attitude
  55. Take a shower or a bath
  56. Talk with the person involved
  57. Have fun
  58. Go to a peaceful place
  59. Relax
  60. Hurt myself
  61. Hit someone
  62. Play
  63. Visit family member, etc.




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