When coping with anxiety, depression, self harm, anger, and other mental health concerns, our best coping strategies are often the opposite of our urges. Taking small steps to face our fears instead of withdrawing...getting out of bed and doing something when we really want to sleep all day...taking a shower or exercising when we feel tempted to harm ourselves...and walking away while taking some deep breaths when we're ready to punch a wall - These are just a few strategies that can help relieve some of what we are feeling. But it's important to recognize that we may need more than coping practices to treat what we are experiencing, and some coping skills, particularly if we've experienced traumatic events, won't be the right answer. Find help on our Community Supports page or ask your counselor for a referral.

Short video on using "grounding" and "scaling" to increase self awareness and for better control over our choices when we are stressed.