Coping with Stuff

Healthy Ways to Cope

Coping skills are essential to surviving uncomfortable situations whether you are sick, someone has hurt your feelings, or you are upset that you made a mistake.

Take a look at this list of the many ways to cope with the discomfort that comes with being human. What are your coping skills? What new ones could you add?

How We Cope

The way we cope will vary because each person is different.

Source https://thrivetreatment.com/blog/2018/10/24/coping-skills-in-recovery/

What Parents Can Do to Help Children Cope

Setting a good example for children by managing your stress through healthy lifestyle choices, such as eating healthy, exercising regularly, getting plenty of sleep, and avoiding drugs and alcohol, is critical for parents and caregivers.

When you are prepared, rested, and relaxed you can respond better to unexpected events and can make decisions in the best interest of your family and loved ones. The following tips can help reduce stress before, during, and after a disaster or traumatic event.

before

Talk to children so that they know you are prepared to keep them safe.
Review safety plans before a disaster or emergency happens. Having a plan will increase your children’s confidence and help give them a sense of control.

during

Stay calm and provide comfort to children.
Talk to children about what is happening in a way that they can understand. Keep it simple and age appropriate.

after

Provide children with opportunities to talk about what they went through or what they think about it. Encourage them to share concerns and ask questions.
You can help children feel a sense of control and manage their feelings by encouraging them to take action directly. For example, children can help others after a disaster, including calling family or making cards.
It is difficult to predict how some children will respond to disasters and traumatic events. Because parents, teachers, and other adults see children in different situations, it is important for them to work together to share information about how each child is coping after a traumatic event.

Source: Stephanie R. Steinman, PhD CSAC. Clinical Psychologist Assistant Professor at University of Wisconsin-Madison, Director of the UW Health Dialectical Behavior Therapy Program.

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