How we cope with stress or difficult situations affects our health, relationships, and is a key factor for our mental, physical, and social wellbeing.
Coping positively builds resilience and enables us to adapt when faced with new challenges. Challenges are also opportunities. Reframing how we think can help us grow. Each opportunity helps us understand how to navigate forward and teaches us what we might do differently.
Emotions are a normal process of coping. It’s ok to feel a range of emotions and these may change when new perspectives come into focus as we take time to reflect.
We all respond and cope differently throughout our lives.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed and have trouble coping, allow yourself to feel your emotions. Take a deep breath, take time to reflect, and respond in a way that empowers you to adapt, grow, and thrive.
For many, it’s not so much about the physical effects of a diagnosis, but the mental stress caused by fear, worry, depression, and concerns about family, work and finances. It’s more how we think that matters.
Although we can’t always control a situation, we can choose our response.
Having strategies to improve coping allows us to better handle our thoughts, feelings, and actions. By seeking effective, adaptive ways of coping, we create a resilient mind and make better decisions going forward.
Researchers identified over 400 different ways of coping including seeking support and information, self-comforting, and problem solving.
Think back to a time you handled and coped with a situation well, and reflect on why and how you managed. If you don’t have a personal example, talk with someone you know that has.
Simple Steps to help you cope, adapt, and grow…
Here are some simple steps you can take designed to help you cope:
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Face the problem. Don’t ignore it. Reframe it into something positive, rather than something to be avoided. For example: “I did not complete my assignment. Transformed to: I am committed to submitting my best work on time, and value completion versus perfection. This assignment has helped me set the way forward.”
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Positive Distractions. If your mind is stuck in a toxic loop, allow yourself to take some time out. Positive distractions can be journal writing, reading affirmations, meditation, singing, dancing, and being with people that are supportive and bring happiness. This isn’t avoidance. This allows your mind the time and mental space needed to refocus.
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Physical Exercise. Exercise is not only good for the body, it’s equally good for the mind. Research suggests it can improve our coping skills and various studies promote exercise as lowering psychological distress. Walking, yoga, swimming, dancing, cycling are great examples of exercise that can be done at home, or while away. As part of your coping plan include an exercise regime that you enjoy, can be done anywhere, anytime, and that you can commit to.
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Breathing exercises. Meditation and breathing can help the mind focus, relax, and calm your emotions, allowing you to make sound decisions that help you adapt to the situation you are experiencing. Deep breathing helps to shift us out of the ‘fight or flight’ mode into the calming parasympathetic healing mode and reclaim a neutral space to reflect and take the next step effectively.
Authors & Blog Contributors
Tony is a certified Radical Remission Health Coach and workshop facilitator. His key takeaway point from this article is to …
Allow yourself to feel your emotions. Take a deep breath, take time to reflect, and respond in a way that empowers you to adapt, grow, and thrive.
Radical Hope Workshops
Wainui Wellness offer Radical Hope Workshops and Coaching throughout the year in person and online. Of the 10 key factors researched, releasing suppressed emotions is a fundamental part of your healing journey. Our Certified Radical Remission Health Coach is here to guide you on your healing journey. To learn more about coaching and workshops, click here.
