Overcome Stress Using These 15 Coping Skills
Here are 15 healthy positive coping skill exercises you should incorporate as habits in your life for relieving stress. Print them out and then post them in an area you will see while having a stressful episode.
Read this list one-by-one until you find the exercise that best works for you. These exercises are healthy alternatives to any kind of hurtful behavior we may use while trying to cope. You can redirect your mind away from the crisis you are experiencing while using these 15 coping skills.
Coping With Depression or Anxiety
1. Take a walk outside at a park or walking trail or go to a mall. Many times it just helps to change your surroundings.
2. Listen to music that makes you happy/feel good. Try to avoid “angry” music. This can just add to those bad feelings you are trying to get rid of.
3. Talk with supportive individuals. You can text, email or call someone you know is supportive of you as well as someone you can trust with your thoughts and feelings. It is essential that they are actually supportive of you since there are times when others think they are being helpful when really it only causes you more harm.
4. Watch a funny show/movie on video or DVD. I collect my favorite comedy shows on DVD and when I am having a “moment” I pull one out and it makes me laugh and get out of that moment.
5. Treat yourself to an ice cream cone. This one can become addicting, but it does make you happy to treat yourself to something that can take you to a happier time.
6. Treat yourself to lunch and invite a friend along. You might want to treat yourself and your friend to breakfast, lunch or dinner. Make sure this friend is someone you trust and is supportive of you and then enjoy your visit.
7. Card games or board games are fun. Play a game by yourself, such as a computer game or invite others to join you in a game. You can redirect your thoughts when you are upset by playing games.
8. Take a break from therapy books and read a novel or other great non-therapy book. Take the time to be transported to another place and time by reading an interesting non-therapy book. Give yourself permission to take a therapy break.
9. Get you feelings out by journaling or drawing. This is an all time favorite of many individuals. You can write anything you feel or the experiences you are going through. You can choose to keep it private or you may want to share it in therapy. Drawing is a great release. You may want to get your own color crayons or pencils to work with.
10. If you have a pet-play with them or just sit together and feel the unconditional love! If it is a dog, take them for a walk. If it is a cat, sit and listen to it purr. You pet could even be fish! I had a fish tank at one time and would sit and watch then swim. It was so peaceful.
11. Go for a relaxing bike ride on a riding trail. Most of the trails are hidden away from the roads and can transport you to another world. Enjoy the sights and sounds of nature!
12. Join a gym. Not only can this help you with changing your surroundings, but it would be doing something good for yourself. Exercise is excellent for depression and anxiety!
13. Do volunteer work. I did this at my local hospital and I felt so useful again. Not only was I doing something for myself, but I was helping others at the same time.
14. Join an online or local support group. I tried this, but it proved too overwhelming for me. Only you can be the judge of this suggestion. I would give it a try and really listen to your voice inside as to if it will hurt or help you.
15. Do a puzzle by yourself or with a friend or family member. Puzzles can be so much fun. You can choose a little one you can finish in one sitting or a larger one that you can come back to later.
These are just a few strategies for coping with stress. When you print this, write down some ideas of your own. Write them down, because you cannot think clearly when you are in that moment. It really helps!