Overcome Stress Using These 15 Coping Skills
When you want to overcome stress, you should consider using these 15 healthy positive coping skill exercises. Remember to print them and then post them somewhere, where they are noticeable when you are enduring a stressful episode.
You may find the exercise that works best for you by reading this list one-by-one. Rather than practicing any type of hurtful behavior while you are trying to cope with stress, try practicing some of the exercises as a healthy alternative. You can use these 15 coping skills exercises to help you redirect your mind away from any crisis you are presently experiencing.
Healthy Alternatives for Coping with Depression or Anxiety
1. Change your surroundings. Go for a long walk at the mall, on walking trails or at the park.
2. Make yourself feel better by listening to some feel good music that can lift your spirits. Avoid angry music, since it stimulates the negative feelings you are trying to overcome.
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. Hold your own laugh fest, by collecting your most funny movies on DVD or video and then watch them until you do feel better.
5. Treat yourself to something special. When you are feeling down, treat yourself to something that will make you feel better. Perhaps, something that takes you to happier time.
6. Take yourself and a friend out to eat. You can treat yourself and a friend to breakfast, lunch or dinner. Ensure that the friend you do take is supportive and someone you can trust and then enjoy each other’s company.
7. Play a game of cards or a board game by yourself or with others such as family or friends. You may even enjoy playing a computer game to help redirect your mind from that which is upsetting.
8. Read a good NON-THERAPY book/novel. I spent so much time reading therapy books; I forgot the joy of being transported to another time or place by reading a good non-therapy book. You need to give yourself permission to take a “therapy” break.
9. Use a journal or drawing pad. You can get all your feelings out while drawing or journaling. These ideas are very popular with many individuals. Anything you feel or experience, you can write down or draw. You may choose to share it with others or you may wish to keep it private, for your eyes only. Get your own set of color pencils or crayons and release everything you have bottled up by drawing them out on paper.
10. Enjoy the unconditional love of a pet. Play with your pet or sit with them and feel the love. Take your dog for a walk, pet your cat and listen to it purr. You can even watch fish and gain serenity and peace.
11. Relax while riding a bike. You may ride along trails that are hidden away from roads that can transport you to your own special and peaceful world. Take the time to enjoy the sights and sounds of the natural settings around you.
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. Volunteer to help. You might volunteer to work at your local hospital. This helps you feel useful while you will also be helping others, which is always a great feeling!
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.
When you feel overwhelmed by negative thoughts and feelings, you will find that these coping skills exercises can be most beneficial to you. Print this out and then pencil in any of your ideas for coping with stress. Remember to post them somewhere that you will see them when you are experiencing a hard time, as they can be very resourceful for you.
