Coping mechanisms are an extremely important aspect of overcoming and managing feelings of anxiety. In many cases, adapting healthy coping mechanisms can help an individual address a situation that entices anxious thoughts and feelings, while helping them act proactively when handling the situation. To simplify this idea, “When individuals are subjected to a stressor, the varying ways of dealing with it are termed ‘coping styles’, which are a set of relatively stable traits that determine the individual’s behaviours in response to stress” (Algorani, 2023) While coping mechanisms differ among each individual, and each scenario, it is important to adapt strategies that are healthy and effective in our day-to-day lives.

The four major categories of coping

Problem-focused

Coping, when looking at it from a psychological lens, is typically categorized into four major categories. These categories are problem-focused, emotion-focused, meaning-focused, and support-seeking. Firstly, problem-solving focuses on identifying the problem which is causing distress, or in many cases, anxiety. Despite its simple sound, this category does bring its challenges, as identifying the root of a problem is not always the focus when dealing with distress (Algorani, 2023). Problem-solving can be something that we often engage in, without even realizing. In some cases, it can come easy to some people, as it is a part of our instincts to act in ways that help us achieve a solution.

Emotion-focused

Secondly, emotion-focused is another category of coping, which looks at reducing negative emotions that are associated with the given problem. This category focuses on implementing approaches that look at reframing an individual’s mindset, and incorporating techniques that cause an opposite response than what already exists (Algorani, 2023). In other words, this category looks at helping individuals process situations that have happened through using things such as meditation, journaling, or breathing exercises. While this approach is not one that resonates with everyone, it can be helpful to put things into perspective for us, and pushes us to use an inward-facing strategy, which can be very useful when facing mental health challenges.

Meaning-focused

Meaning-focused coping, as stated in the title, looks at finding a greater meaning in the experiences which are brought to us, often by stressful and anxiety-provoking situations (Algorani, 2023). This approach focuses on looking at our values and beliefs, and the ways they can be connected to our lived experiences. This approach is highly based on finding an overarching meaning for what has occurred, and the ways in which we can understand ourselves differently, and more beneficially.

Support-seeking

Support-seeking coping, also simple in its title, is based on the approach of seeking support from one’s community (Algorani, 2023). This coping strategy is one which looks at individuals seeking supportive actions and words from others, with an aim to better understand their situation and how to move forward.

It is very common to be unsure about how to manage mental health issues, anxiety specifically. These four coping strategies are all great ways to help us manage feelings of stress and anxiety, while also helping us gain a healthier wellbeing and approach to life.

References

Algorani, E. B. (2023). Coping mechanisms. Stat Pearls. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559031/

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