All About Coping Skills

What are coping skills? Why should I use them? What are the benefits of using them? Is it difficult to learn? What if I don't like doing it? How can this help me? Is there someone this can't help?

Those are just a few questions that might be bubbling up in your mind right now. I'm here to answer all of them and more.

Here's what you need to know about coping skills. What they are, how to use them, and how knowing about them will benefit you.

Let's start off with the basics. What are coping skills? It's a very good question. Five years ago, I wouldn't have been able to tell you. But after two years of reaping the benefits of this knowledge, I'm ready to tell everyone about it. Because, why not? Coping skills are things you do that help you through your negative moods. Most of these skills are some form of activity, although they can range from difficult to easy, long to short.

Everyone around you uses coping skills when they're low. The key to maintaining a good lifestyle is recognizing which coping skills are bad ones, and which are good ones. Bad coping skills are unhealthy ways of coping through life. This includes, but does not limit to, excessive alcohol, drug use, excessive shopping, overworking, smoking, self harming behaviors, etc... Although, not all bad coping skills are that drastic. It could be as simple as lying on the couch all day, watching too much television, and practically anything that can result in an unhealthy lifestyle.

So what are some good coping skills? They can range anywhere from creative activities, like painting, singing, and journaling, to physical activity, like going for a walk. There's also coping skills that double as self-care, such as taking a relaxing bath, meditation, making yourself a salad, and many more. I encourage you to create your own list of coping skills you either already do, or are wanting to try. Some coping skills help more than others.

For me, I've found I enjoy writing, organizing my room, spending time with my pets, and creating.

Now that you understand what coping skills are, we can talk about some other aspects. You should definitely use coping skills because, hint hint, you're doing it already! Yes, everyone is using them without even realizing it. Cool, right?

So what are the benefits of establishing healthy coping skills? I've seen habits start to form in my life from focusing on good coping skills. If I'm lounging in my bed and I notice my mood being low, I make myself get up and move to a different room. The connections in my brain start growing stronger, and the more I do it, the better it will become! Another reason to start thinking about the skills you use is just to help you build a healthier lifestyle. Watching yourself for what you tend to reach toward when you're sad will help you understand where you're at. Possibly you've been turning to a bad coping skill without even knowing it. Being aware can help you solve problems you didn't know were there. One last benefit of coping skills is sheer fun. I can't believe how many activities I've never tried but now feel inspired to do! Life is good when you're open and seeking new things.

What if you don't like a certain coping skill, you ask? That's completely okay, because there are literally hundreds of different ones! No pressure to try a certain thing, or try anything. You can just stick to the ones you know and like. However, I always think trying a new coping skill every week will help you branch out and find something that may even work better for you.

Find your light one morning at a time.

- Bella