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Coping Skills & Self-Care

Life is full of stressful situations we can’t control. What we can control, however, is our response to those situations. It might feel impossible at times, but this is where coping skills play an important role in our mental health. By improving our tools for coping with stress, we can take a step back from our immediate reaction and give ourselves space to find a better approach. Coping skills are the tools, activities, strategies, and tactics you use when you’re in a stressful situation. These may help a person face a situation, take action, and be flexible and persistent in solving problems.

Self care can be defined as any healthy, deliberate activity intended to nourish your mental, emotional, and/or physical wellbeing. Self care is something that we do regularly to help maintain optimal health and wellness in all aspects of our life. Examples of Self-Care include maintaining healthy boundaries with others, having good hygiene, getting enough sleep, regular movement — some form of exercise (can be as simple as walking), eating nutritious foods and balanced meals, keeping scheduled doctor, therapy, or other appointments, and taking prescribed medications regularly, as directed.

Coping skills and self-care are related but are not the same thing. Coping skills should be an important part of a healthy self care routine.