Some of you may know where this is headed. I can feel the eye rolls already.

Coping skills? What is that anyways? Some generic term for chanting and distracting myself?

For those who don’t know, coping skills are specific tools that help you deal with stress, anxiety, and depression. There are a lot of ways to go about finding what works for you. Trial and error is a big part of it though because you are unique in what works for you, and the learning curve of you only moves as fast as you are willing to try to work on it.

I don’t think coping skills have to be frilly, or cheesy, or feel like you’re just hugging yourself while you read a positive affirmation made for a Hallmark card. Coping skills sometimes feel like sandpaper, but they do help you manage your symptoms.

What you want to work on is finding tools you can use for home, and tools you can use for when you are not at home. If you want to get an idea on what this can look like, it can be breathing exercises (which have some serious science connected to them… it’s not just deep breaths and counting to ten), cold water exposure, meditations, exercise. The tool kit can look as unique and you as you want.

If you want to work on this deeper, reach out.