Coping Skills
“that was the new magic word” to focus on.
cope: “to deal with and attempt to overcome problems and difficulties often to maintain a contest or combat usually on even terms or with success.”
skill: “is the ability to use one’s knowledge effectively and readily in execution or performance”
Hopefully during the month of January you were able to try some of the coping skills challenges. And pick up a few things to try as we all learn to manage our battle with mental illness.
And not only that I wonder how most of the world has been managing to cope with the current state of things.
The current pandemic that has plagued us has definitely affected everyone in some shape or form. In dealing with the pandemic it is obvious that people have had to find or create new ways to cope with the added stress. Even for those who don’t struggle with a mental illness, there is no denying the amount of stress and struggle that COVID has brought to the surface. For many individuals going out or being with family and friends would be an essential part of those coping mechanisms but, with ongoing stay at home orders, quarantine and slow re-openings finding ways to cope as well as interact with others has been difficult.
Those who do suffer from a mental illness or disorder the pandemic has brought on even more added challenges. Any mentally stable person could definitely say that this past year has pushed us all to our limits whether physically, mentally ,or emotionally. This also brings the question on how to deal with the constant challenges, stress and emotional rollercoasters. How can one even begin to deal with what life already throws at us on top of the type of whirlwind the past year has been.
Bringing us back to the words we learned earlier Coping Skills. Of course we all know that life will never be short of challenges but trying to form ways to cope and “deal with difficulties” can be a struggle in itself. You’re trying to form a plan and hopefully it’s a positive one to overcome whatever is standing in your way, because there are definitely negative ways to deal with one’s problems. Developing positive coping skills also takes time and discipline. But if we are able to figure out ways to deal in positive ways to deal with what life throws at us it’s the difference between rising up and breaking down.
My Green Ribbon 