How to Coach Yourself and Others Techniques For Coaching | Page 354

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exercising self-control
seeking social support
positive reappraisal

and two problem-focused coping strategies:
"taking action to try to get rid of the problem is a problem-focused
strategy, but so is making a list of the steps to take".
Lazarus "notes the connection between his idea of 'defensive
reappraisals' or cognitive coping and Freud's concept of 'egodefenses'", coping strategies thus overlapping with a person's defense
mechanisms.
Positive techniques (adaptive or constructive coping)
One positive coping strategy, "anticipating a problem...is known as
proactive coping." Anticipation is when one "reduce[s] the stress of
some difficult challenge by anticipating what it will be like and
preparing for how [one is] going to cope with it".
Two others are "social coping, such as seeking support from others, and
meaning-focused coping, in which the person concentrates on deriving
meaning from the stressful experience".
Keeping fit - "when you are well and healthy, when nutrition, exercise
and sleep are adequate, it is much easier to cope with stress" - and
learning "to lower the level of arousal...by relaxing muscles the message
is received that all is well" are also positive techniques.
Arguably, however, the best of all "the methods people use to cope with
painful situations...is humor! You feel things to the full...but you master
them by turning it all into pleasure and fun!"
While dealing with stress it is important to deal with your physical,
mental, and social well being. One should maintain their health and
learn to relax if they find themselves under stress. Mentally it is
important to think positive thoughts, value oneself, demonstrate good
time management, plan and think ahead, and express emotions. Socially
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