Coping Mechanisms

A coping mechanism does exactly what it says: it’s a mechanism you use to cope with something difficult.

You may feel upset, angry, isolated. These emotions are unpleasant and uncomfortable, so often we look for a way of coping with them. This can be either a good or a bad thing depending on what you use to help you cope.

Below is a list of safe coping mechanisms to help you, particularly if you are dealing with anger. It’s important to find the ones that work for you, as not all will suit you.

• Scribble on photos of people in magazines
• Have a pillow fight with the wall
• Scream very loudly
• Tear apart newspapers, photos, or magazines
• Go to the gym, dance, exercise
• Listen to music and sing along loudly
• Draw a picture of what is making you angry
• Beat up a stuffed toy
• Pop bubble wrap / balloons
• Splatter paint
• Scribble on a piece of paper until the whole page is black
• Filling a piece of paper with drawing cross hatches
• Throw darts at a dartboard
• Go for a run
• Write your feelings on paper then rip it up
• Use stress relievers
• Build a fort of pillows and then destroy it
• Flatten aluminum cans for recycling, seeing how fast you can go
• Break sticks
• Make yourself as comfortable as possible
• Stomp around in heavy shoes
• Play handball or tennis
• Yell at what you are breaking and tell it why you are angry, hurt, upset, etc.
• Buy a cheap plate and decorate it with markers, stickers, cut outs from magazines, words, images, whatever that expresses your pain and sadness and when you’re done, smash it. (Please be careful when doing this)