A little stress can be good for you, mentally and physically. It keeps you challenged and alert. But when stress mounts up, you need to learn how to cope. There are healthy and unhealthy coping mechanisms. Good coping strategies allow you to deal directly with difficulties. If you don't, you can suffer more from the negative effects of stress than the problems that cause it.
Definition
By developing healthy coping strategies, you can deal with a problem in a calm and responsible manner, rather than ignoring or denying it, according to the Canadian Mental Health Association. Coping successfully requires you to evaluate a situation rationally and decide what to do. Because everyone reacts to situations differently, how you cope can vary greatly from other people.
Types
There are several healthy coping mechanisms you can count on in times of trouble, according to the International Stress Management Association. Talk to friends, family or co-workers who can share your burden or help you see things differently. Exercise can reduce your stress as you work off tension through physical activity. Mental Health America suggests doing activities that you enjoy, from seeing a movie to walking in the park. These brief distractions can lower your stress level and help you cope.
Effects
Good coping skills are important for both your physical and mental health. If you don't learn how to cope with stress brought on by daily demands and problems, you can compromise your health, warns the American Psychological Association. Bad eating habits and heart disease, including an increased risk of a heart attack, can result.
Misconceptions
Learning to cope with life's complications and crises doesn't mean you shrug off the problems or ignore them, cautions the International Stress Management Association. Part of coping involves facing the hard situations and looking for solutions. At times, you may face an issue that has no solution or that can't be changed. In those instances, perhaps the best way to cope is to recognize that reality and accept it.
Warning
You might be tempted to use harmful or illegal substances to help you cope. These short-term coping strategies offer limited relief and create more stress in the long run, warns the International Stress Management Association. Though alcohol can lift your mood for a few hours, it ultimately works as a depressant. Nicotine is a stimulant that can make you feel anxious, in addition to causing serious illness. Prescription drugs, a short-term fix, can be addictive and dangerous.
References
- International Stress Management Association: Top 10 Stress Busting Tips
- Mental Health America: Factsheet: Living Your Life During Challenging Times
- TheSite.org: Your Guide to the Real World: Coping With Stress
- Canadian Mental Health Association: Coping With Stress
- American Psychological Association: Mind/Body Health: Job Stress
