Coping
Strategies
Coping (Psychology)
In psychology, coping is expending conscious
effort to solve personal and interpersonal
problems, and seeking to master, minimize or
tolerate stress or conflict.
Psychological coping mechanisms are
commonly termed coping strategies or coping
skills.
Mental Health Issues
(DOH, Resource Mapping 2017-2020)
3.6
million
Filipinos are
battling mental
health issues as the 1.14
Philippines
million
continues to
grapple with the
COVID-19
pandemic
520,000 were
are battling
Filipinos have
847,000 alcohol-use
depression
disorders
Schizophrenia
diagnosed with 213,422
bipolar
disorder
5,570 Suicide deaths
per year
TYPES OF
COPING
STRATEGIES
Emotion-focused Coping
 Emotion-focused coping is a type of stress
management that attempts to reduce negative
emotional responses associated with stress.
 Negative emotions such as embarrassment, fear,
anxiety, depression, excitement and frustration are
reduced or removed by the individual by various
methods of coping.
 Emotion-focused techniques might be the only
realistic option when the source of stress is outside
the person’s control.
Distraction, e.g.
keeping yourself busy
to take your mind off
the issue.
Emotional disclosure.
This involves
expressing strong
emotions by talking
or writing about
negative events
which precipitated
those emotions
(Pennebaker, 1995)
Drug therapy can be
seen as emotion
focused coping as it
focuses on the
arousal caused by
stress not the
problem.
Praying for guidance
and strength
Meditation, e.g.
mindfulness.
Eating more, e.g.
comfort food.
Drinking alcohol.
Journaling, e.g.
writing a gratitude
diary (Cheng, Tsui, &
Lam, 2015).
What is the focus
of this coping
mechanism?
 The focus of this coping mechanism is to change the meaning
of the stressor or transfer attention away from it.
 Emotion-focused coping is well suited for stressors that seem
uncontrollable (ex. a terminal illness diagnosis, or the loss of a loved
one).
Some mechanisms of emotion focused coping, such as
distancing or avoidance, can have alleviating outcomes
for a short period of time, however they can be detrimental
when used over an extended period. Positive emotion focused
mechanisms, such as seeking social support, and
positive re-appraisal, are associated with beneficial
outcomes
Types of coping strategies
2. problem-focused: Directed towards reducing or eliminating
a stressor, adaptive behavioral People using problem-focused
strategies try to deal with the cause of their problem.
They do this by finding out information on the problem and
learning new skills to manage the problem. Problem-focused
coping is aimed at changing or eliminating the source of the
stress. The three problem-focused coping strategies identified
by Folkman and Lazarus are taking control, information
seeking, and evaluating the pros and cons
Which type is
more useful?
Emotional-focused
coping
Problem-focused
coping
All these methods can prove useful, but
some claim that those using
problemfocused
coping strategies will adjust
better to life.
Problem-focused versus
emotion-focused
Problem-focused coping mechanisms
may allow an individual greater
perceived control over their problem,
whereas emotion-focused coping may
sometimes lead to a reduction in
perceived control (maladaptive coping).
Positive techniques (adaptive or constructive coping)
 proactive
coping. Anticipation is when one reduces the
stress of some difficult challenge by anticipating what it will
be like and preparing for how one is going to cope with it
 social
coping,
such as seeking
 meaning-focused
concentrates
experience.
on
coping,
deriving
social
support
in
which
meaning
from
Yet another way of coping
circumstances that cause stress.
is
avoiding
from
the
the
others
person
stressful
thoughts
Adequate nutrition, exercise, sleep contribute
management,
as
do
physical
fitness
and
techniques such as progressive muscle relaxation.
or
to stress
relaxation
Negative techniques
(maladaptive coping or noncoping)
Dissociation is the ability of the mind to separate and
compartmentalize thoughts, memories, and emotions. This is often
associated with post traumatic stress syndrome.
Sensitization is when a person seeks to learn about, rehearse,
and/or anticipate fearful events in a protective effort to prevent
these events from occurring in the first place.
Safety behaviors are demonstrated when individuals with anxiety
disorders come to rely on something, or someone, as a means of
coping with their excessive anxiety.
Anxious avoidance is when a person avoids anxiety provoking
situations by all means. This is the most common strategy.
Escape is closely related to avoidance. This technique is often
demonstrated by people who experience panic attacks or have
phobias. These people want to flee the situation at the first sign of
anxiety.
What is one of the most
positive methods?
humor
While dealing with stress it is important
to deal with your physical, mental, and
social well being.
Physically, one should maintain one's health and
learn to relax if one finds oneself under stress.
Mentally it is important to think positive thoughts,
value oneself, demonstrate good time
management, plan and think ahead, and express
emotions.
Socially one should communicate with people
and seek new activities.
By following these simple strategies, one will have an
easier time responding to stresses in one's life
SELF-REFLECTION
is to gain self-awareness through the
self-realizations that occur within when
we sit with ourselves, delving deeper into
our conscious & subconscious mind.
Reflecting upon the past…
See deeper within
With clarity
Which leads us to…
acknowledging
accepting understanding
forgiving
Being honest with yourself
is said to be one of the
hardest to do
Make excuses
Blame others
Hold on to what we should let go
Acceptance
Inner peace
Self-reflection
Self-controlled
mindset
When we resist, tension grows
When we don’t do what is our
best interest, depression
always follows
To evolve
To grow
To flourish
We cannot begin to change the
world around us until, we begin
to change the world within us.
THANKS!
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