“Life is not what it’s supposed to be. It’s what it is. The way you cope with it is what makes the difference.”
- Aleatha Romig, Consequences
Day 227 AF.
As a logical follow-up to last week’s post about my defense mechanisms, I want to take a look at coping mechanisms (also called coping styles or strategies), what they are, and the ones I have used and still use to handle stress and anxieties in my life. My purpose here is to relate my past alcohol misuse with ineffective or "maladaptive" coping strategies and to raise my self-awareness of my current ways of coping with life's stressors.
Coping styles/strategies/mechanisms are the ways we consciously respond to stress and problems. Defense mechanisms are the ways we unconsciously react to stress and problems, typically deep-seated and fear-based.
"What Are Coping Mechanisms?
Significant life events, whether positive or negative, can cause psychological stress. Difficult events, such as divorce, miscarriage, the death of a loved one, or the loss of a job, can cause most people to feel grief or distress. But even events that are considered positive by many—getting married, having a child, and buying a home—can lead to significant amounts of stress. To adjust to this stress, people may utilize some combination of behavior, thought, and emotion, depending on the situation."
...
Coping styles can be problem-focused or emotion-focused. Problem-focused coping strategies are typically associated with methods of dealing with the problem in order to reduce stress, while emotion-focused mechanisms can help people handle any feelings of distress that result from the problem.
...
Additionally, coping mechanisms can be broadly categorized as active or avoidant. Active coping mechanisms usually involve an awareness of the stressors and conscious attempts to reduce stress. Avoidant coping mechanisms, on the other hand, are characterized by ignoring or otherwise avoiding the problem.
...
Some coping methods, though they work for a time, are not effective for a long-term period. These ineffective coping mechanisms, which can often be counterproductive or have unintended negative consequences, are known as “maladaptive coping.” Adaptive coping mechanisms are those generally considered to be healthy and effective ways of managing stressful situations."
Here is a link for a deeper understanding of coping mechanisms, and where I borrowed some text defining coping mechanisms for this post, italicized.
https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychpedia/coping-mechanisms
Primary ways of Coping: (mine in bold)
Support: Talking with others, asking for help
Relaxation: Time in nature, meditation, quiet time
Problem-solving: Identifying a problem and developing solutions
Humor: Can lighten the mood, but can be overdone
Physical activity: Exercise, sports, hiking, and dancing can reduce stress
Common maladaptive coping mechanisms: (mine in bold)
Escape: Withdraw, engage in solitary activities
Unhealthy self-soothing: Moderate use of behaviors and substances may allow distraction, such as binge-watching TV, internet use, and video games, but can lead to numbing.
Numbing: For me, binge drinking, disappearing from the world and myself.
Compulsions and risk-taking: Gambling, extreme sports, adrenaline rush.
Self-harm: People may engage in self-harming behaviors to cope with extreme stress or trauma.
Even though I am moving solidly forward in sobriety, I know that I still employ avoidant or maladaptive coping mechanisms, mostly to escape, ignore or deflect stressors affecting me, rather than truly strive to handle problems effectively. I know that my "recovery" tools of mindfulness and journaling will help me identify and adjust my reactions and responses in healthy ways. Efforts here will involve self-analysis, breaking old habits of thought and behavior, being honest with myself and those that matter to me, and being vulnerable. A better way of being and growing is to learn and practice appropriate healthy coping skills and to recognize and correct my use of maladaptive coping mechanisms. I can do this!!
(* Relapse is not an option! *)
If my writings in this photography project can benefit anyone in their recovery, I am proud to be of service!
Staying mindful and strong!
instagram.com/bobd.photography
#Recovery52 #recovery #sobriety #addictionrecovery #soberphotography #smartrecovery #mindfulrecovery #creativerecovery #photography #photographyproject #photoproject