If you have dealt with any level of stress or anxiety in your life, there is a good chance that you have stumbled across something called a “coping skill”. But what is a coping skill exactly? And how does it work? How we deal with stress stems from both “biological and social” roots. As a child, you observe people around you dealing with a variety of stressors. You absorb and learn from these people, regardless of whether they are utilizing healthy coping skills or not. As you grow up, you begin to apply these same coping skills to the stresses in your life. Have a hard day at work? Drink a beer. Substance use is the number one coping skill, despite its unhealthy nature.
When you drink a beer after work, your brain is flooded with dopamine and you forget about whatever was worrying you. When you wake up the next morning, the stressor is still there. This is considered an “Escapist” coping strategy. Another, somewhat controversial example of an Escapist strategy is blind spirituality or religion. An extreme example of this is someone who belongs to a cult, and believes that the cult leader will solve all of their problems. Religion as a whole tends to reorient the locus of control, placing things in the hands of something other than ourselves. Alternately, there are “Face-It” coping strategies. For example, if you incorporate a mindfulness activity into your everyday routine, you will likely be able to handle stress better when it arises. These “Face-It” strategies help to alleviate stress, and allow us to process the stress from a more realistic perspective.
If you ask Google, it will most likely tell you that the “Face-It” strategies are overwhelmingly more advantageous than their Escapist counterparts. But this is not always the case. Some people do not have the option of utilizing “Face-It” strategies. For instance, a person who lives in a community or culture who demands a certain spirituality or religion, and veering from that is punishable by law. Furthermore, there are people who live in such highly stressful environments, that they have no choice but to rely on “Escapist” strategies. This is where a good counselor or therapist comes into play. A professional who can help you navigate the coping skills, and help you find the best way for you to cope with stress. You are still strong and valuable if you ask for help.
How do you deal with stress? Take this Coping & Stress Management Skills
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References:
Cardillo, J. (2019, September 22). Coping. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/attention-training/201909/coping
Haas, S. B. (2019, March 18). 7 Healthy, Non-Destructive Ways to Cope With Stress. Retrieved from
Scharff, C. (2016, September 16). Understanding and Choosing Better Coping Skills. Retrieved from
Sherman, J. (2017, April 10). Face-it Versus Escapist Coping Strategies. Retrieved from
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/ambigamy/201704/face-it-versus-escapist-coping-strategies