Feeling overwhelmed by stress, bad habits, or emotional burnout? You’re not alone. Every day, we face situations that push us to our limits. How we respond can either help us grow or keep us stuck. Whether you realize it or not, you already use coping skills. The real question is: are they helping you or hurting you?
The truth is, you already cope with a lot on a daily basis, whether you realize it or not. Some of us manage these stressors more effectively than others, and that’s often because of something called coping skills. From movies and songs to the encouragement of loved ones, we’ve all received messages about “overcoming.” But when life feels heavy and nothing seems to work, what then?
That’s where coping strategies come in.
What Are Coping Skills?
In the world of therapy, coping refers to the ways we deal with stress, pain, and difficulty. Coping skills are specific strategies we use to handle life’s challenges, process our emotions, and, ideally, move forward in a healthier way.
Some coping skills are helpful. Others, not so much.
Healthy coping skills can:
- Build resilience
- Help regulate emotions
- Prevent stress from piling up
- Improve overall mental health and well-being
Unhealthy coping skills, on the other hand, tend to do the opposite. They may bring temporary relief, but they often add to our stress, increase anxiety and depression, and keep us stuck in unhealthy patterns.
The Coping Habits You May Already Be Using
Whether or not you’re aware of it, you already have coping habits. The question is: are they helping you or hurting you?
Common unhealthy coping strategies include:
- Overeating or undereating
- Alcohol or substance use
- Self-harm
- Negative self-talk
- Isolating yourself
- Overspending
- Pornography
- Doomscrolling on social media
- Lashing out in anger
- Overworking or avoiding rest
- Impulsive or reckless behavior
These habits may offer a short-term escape, but they usually lead to long-term problems.
The more we rely on unhealthy coping mechanisms, the more ingrained they become. Eventually, they can turn into negative habits—or even addictions—that feel hard to break.
So What Can You Do?
Here’s the key: Intentionality.
Changing how you cope starts with making a conscious decision to build new, healthier habits.
We often revert to familiar behaviors when we’re stressed, even if they don’t serve us well. That’s why it’s so important to prepare ahead of time by identifying positive coping strategies you can turn to in the moment.
Here’s a simple challenge to get you started:
Write down 5 healthy coping skills you can try when life feels overwhelming. Keep them somewhere easy to access—like the Notes app on your phone or a sticky note on your mirror.
Some examples of healthy coping strategies:
- Take a walk in nature
- Listen to uplifting music
- Pray or read a favorite scripture
- Call or text a trusted friend
- Journal your thoughts
- Watch a feel-good show
- Practice deep breathing or mindfulness
- Read a book
- Play with your pet
- Exercise or stretch
- Sit outside in the sun
- Try a short guided meditation
- Do a creative activity like coloring or drawing
- Play a relaxing game for a few minutes
Final Thoughts
Coping is a skill just like riding a bike or learning to cook. It takes practice, patience, and self-compassion. You won’t always get it right, and that’s okay.
If you’re working on replacing negative coping habits with healthier ones, don’t get discouraged by setbacks. Every effort counts. With time and consistency, healthy coping will begin to feel more natural, just like the unhealthy patterns once did. We at Legacy Marriage Resources help people who are stuck and help them with accountability. If you need help, don’t hesitate to email or call us.
You have more strength than you know.
The key is to choose how you want to respond when life gets tough.
Author: Sophia McCall, Admin
