Psychology for Dummies (90 page)
Read Psychology for Dummies Online
Authors: Adam Cash
Tags: #Psychology, #General, #Body; Mind & Spirit, #Spirituality
Stress, stress, stress — we’ve all got it. So what can we do about it? This question brings me to the concept of
coping
— our reactions to stressful and upsetting situations. Sometimes our coping strategies can make things better (getting healthy from exercising) and sometimes they can make things worse (like blowing our paycheck at a casino). All of us have different ways of coping with stress, some of them good and some of them bad. Even though bad coping skills can lead to problems, not having any coping skills can lead to vulnerability and, sometimes, to more problems than you previously had. Sometimes using bad coping techniques is better than not coping at all.
Most psychologists classify coping behaviors into two big categories,
approach processes
and
avoidance processes.
Approach coping is more active and resembles a more take-charge kind of response to stress.
Common approach-coping responses include:
Logical analysis:
Looking at a situation in as realistic terms as possible
Reappraising or reframing:
Looking at a situation from a different perspective and trying to see the positive side of things
Accepting responsibility:
Taking charge of my part in things
Seeking guidance and support:
Asking for help (see the “Everything but the kitchen sink: Resources at your disposal” section later in this chapter)
Problem solving:
Coming up with alternatives, making a choice, and evaluating outcomes
Information gathering:
Collecting additional information about the stressor so that one can more easily cope
Avoidance coping strategies are less active and involve coping in less direct ways. Common avoidance coping strategies are:
Denial:
Refusing to admit that a problem exists
Avoiding:
Evading possible sources of stress
Distraction or seeking alternative rewards:
Trying to get satisfaction elsewhere like watching a funny movie when feeling sad or enjoying recreational activities on the weekend to cope with having a bad job
Venting or emotional discharge:
Yelling, getting depressed, worrying
Sedation:
Numbing oneself to the stress through drugs, alcohol, sex, eating binges, and so on