Coping skills
"There are days when I drop words of comfort on myself like falling leaves and remember it is enough to be taken care of by myself." - Story People
We all have them.
Some are good ... others are not so good.
The hardest thing about learning to use positive coping skills is to learn that
you deserve to be okay.
You deserve to be happy, healthy, and hopeful.
If you learn to love yourself, you will learn to use your positive coping skills during the rough times instead of the harmful ones you have been using your whole life.
Everyone has their own support system to lean on when life gets difficult. You have to find healthy ways to survive that work for you. Something that works for someone else may just make you worse. So finding good coping strategies requires some self-assessment.
The coping skills listed and explained in this section are only ideas. Use, try, modify, or throw out whichever ones you choose. This is your life, and you are the one who is going to have to live with the consequences.
COPING SKILLS
Develop a support team of friends. Write down the names of people you trust and their phone numbers and stick it somewhere easily accessible. When in crisis, or if you are feeling that you will soon reach a crisis point, call a friend.
Do something with your hands.
Paint, draw, or color.
Write in a journal.
Write a list of things or people you are thankful for.
Try deep breathing techniques.
Do something physical. Take a walk. Stretch. Try yoga.
Sit in front of a blank TV screen and try to imagine positive images. If you can, have a list prepared for those times that are difficult.
