In situations where people face stress or trauma, they use coping mechanisms to manage the pain of dealing with difficult emotions. Coping techniques for stress help people to manage their feelings (such as anxiety, loneliness, or anger) in overwhelming situations. Many people who struggle with these negative feelings turn to drugs or alcohol to deal with the feelings they are experiencing. A dual diagnosis treatment program in Murray, UT will help you develop valuable coping skills, to resist drugs in times of trauma.
Coping Styles & Mechanisms
Coping styles typically focus on emotions or problems. Problem-focused strategies reduce stress by eliminating the cause, while emotion-focused methods show you how to handle distress.
The mechanisms can further be categorized as avoidant or active. Avoidant mechanisms involve ignoring the problem until the storm passes. Active mechanisms, in contrast, are characterized by a conscious attempt to identify and reduce the cause of distress.
Some coping techniques may work for a period, but they may not be as effective as long-term solutions. Also known as maladaptive coping, these ineffective mechanisms often have (unintended) negative consequences. They can also be counterproductive. Adaptive coping methods are effective, healthier ways to manage stress in life.
There are numerous types of coping mechanisms, including:
- Talking to a supportive person about the stressful situation you’re going through
- Engaging in relaxing activities, such as meditation, sitting in nature, or listening to music
- Identifying the cause of the stress and working on a solution
- Use of humor to make a stressful situation appear light
- Engaging in physical activity, such as yoga, dancing, swimming, jogging, or sports
Coping Mechanisms & Mental Health
Coping skills are essential for your emotional and mental well-being. People with the ability to adjust to traumatic or stressful situations are less likely to experience depression or anxiety. Furthermore, the inability to handle stress often leads to numerous mental health concerns. Addiction therapy programs in Murray, UT address these issues, and help you develop valuable coping skills to avoid the temptation to use drugs when faced with trauma,
Maladaptive coping makes it challenging to utilize practical strategies, which consequently impacts your overall well-being. For example, if you don’t know how to deal with anger, stress, or anxiety, you may rely on alcohol to cope. As a result, you’ll develop dependence because you’ll be running to drink in all challenging situations.
A therapist will help you to develop and enhance positive coping skills. Drug and alcohol addiction treatment is possible through the offering of support concerning coping skills. Therapy sessions are typically nonjudgmental and safe environments where you can explore various types of coping methods.
A dual diagnosis treatment center provides comprehensive addiction treatment that treats the underlying mental health condition contributing to your drug addiction, in addition to the symptoms of your drug addiction. Addiction therapy services and substance abuse treatment programs in Murray UT include:
- Medication-assisted treatment program
- Intensive outpatient treatment program
- Family therapy program
- Occupational therapy program
A Concluding Note
Researchers and mental health professionals agree that there are more than 500 coping strategies people use. Yet, there is an unlimited number of approaches still under research. This is why different textbooks and institutions have different classifications of coping techniques.
Choose a healthy strategy based on your physical and mental health status. It’s not wrong to experiment with several techniques until you find a suitable one for your case. But always do so in a manner that will not cause any negative impact on your overall health.
You can use different coping mechanisms, depending on the situation you’re facing. Don’t let stress, a mental condition, substance abuse, or an addiction wreak havoc in your life. Seek professional help from Utah addiction treatment programs today and they’ll get you on the road to recovery.