Coping Skills
Life has its fair share of ups and downs—we all know that. Whether it’s a job change, relationship problems, financial troubles, illness, etc., how you cope with major life events is vital to your overall well-being. There are good ways to cope, such as seeking out support or engaging in physical activity. There are also bad ways to cope, such as substance abuse or avoiding the problem. At Arcara, through therapy, our licensed psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners can help you learn healthy coping skills so that you can better manage stressors in your life both today and down the road.
An example of the importance of coping skills starts with assuming you’re unhappy at work. The first reaction might be to resign or send a barrage of angry emails. While you may feel vindicated in the short term, it will not benefit you in the long run. Coping skills can calm you down or divert your attention away from your anger, allowing you to act with purpose rather than instinct.
Coping skills and strategies are the reactions and behaviors used to deal with difficult situations. There are many coping strategies. We all have coping skills. Some of them may be beneficial, while others are detrimental. Our goal is to help you develop positive coping skills that help you maintain balance in your life. Coping entails adjusting to or tolerating adverse events or realities while maintaining a positive self-image and emotional balance.
Coping takes place amid stressful life changes. We often link psychological stress to adverse life events, such as losing a job or a loved one. Change causes adaptation in some form. Even pleasant changes, such as marriage or having a child, can be stressful.
Change is stressful because it forces us to adjust and adapt to new circumstances. Too many changes in a short time can give the impression that we don’t have control over what’s going on. This mindset can lead to low self-esteem and even anxiety or depression. When your capacity to adapt to change is overwhelmed, physical illnesses may develop or worsen sometimes.
Anxiety disorders have adverse consequences if untreated. Some people who have recurrent panic attacks, for example, avoid putting themselves in situations that they believe will trigger another panic attack at all costs. Such avoidance behavior can cause problems because it interferes with job requirements, family obligations, and other basic daily activities.
Untreated anxiety disorders are more likely to develop other psychological disorders, such as depression, and those with anxiety are more prone to alcohol and substance abuse problems. Their relationships with family, friends, and coworkers may become strained. And their job performance may suffer.
At Arcara, we help you identify your stressors and draw a road map to overcoming the triggers. We walk with you to ensure the coping strategy we come up with treats the root of your stressor.
Yes, you’ll get some homework!
In therapy, homework is enjoyable and educational work completed outside of sessions. It increases the duration of the session and the rate of progress. We may assign our clients out-of-session work.
Mental health and recovery depend on an individual case. There’s no “one size fits all “coping strategy, and at Arcara, we handle our patients on a case-by-case basis. You depend on healthy coping skills to get through life, and you employ them regularly.
Good coping skills can assist you in dealing with temptations and cravings and avoiding problems such as drug abuse and addiction. For example, if you’re stressed, you might realize that going for a run rather than drinking a few beers is a better way to relieve stress.
We have also linked deferred gratification to healthy emotional coping skills in studies. People who can postpone gratification have stronger coping abilities. This connection is critical to your day-to-day operations. You may choose to concentrate on your job, resist impulsive actions, and prioritize your family’s needs if you have powerful coping mechanisms.
If you’re facing a difficult life situation, seeking help is a good idea. Anxiety, frustration, and depression are all common side effects of stressful situations, but we can manage them. We specialize in treating depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other psychological disorders at Arcara Personalized Psychiatry.
We can help you learn to deal with any emotional stressors you face in your life so that you can preserve your mental health. Though you can’t always control what life throws at you, you can always control how you react to it.
We have offices in Westborough, Boston. Fill out our online intake form or call us directly.
We believe in taking the time to get to know all of our clients personally, creating an environment of trust and communication.
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