I believe that the root of pathology is the lack of access to emotional resources when a person experiences intense emotions such as anxiety, fear, shame, loneliness, or loss. Things feel like too much. A person can be overwhelmed by uncomfortable feelings and situations that they will do almost anything (even extremely unhealthy stuff) to feel differently or to feel the pain less even momentarily.
The skills set of learning to sit with hard, uncomfortable emotions and not turn away from oneself is a difficult skills set, but an empowering one and worth working for. So, how do you do it? Here are some ideas for your personalized coping skills plan. This plan can be implemented anytime you are flooded by negative emotions. These are things do on a bad day and that help YOU to feel better.
Answer the Following Questions to Know What Your Personalized Coping Skills Are:
- Soothing and Comfort
Things that are relaxing for me are
________________________________ ______________________________________
Smells ___________________________ ______________________________________
Textures __________________________ ______________________________________
Sights ____________________________ ______________________________________
Places ____________________________ ______________________________________
Sounds ___________________________ ______________________________________
- People That I Can Always Turn to Are:
________________________________ _____________________________________
________________________________ _____________________________________
________________________________ _____________________________________
- Personal Favorites
Color ______________________________ Food _______________________________
Sport ______________________________ Candy bar ___________________________
Book ______________________________ Movie ______________________________
Song ______________________________ Instrument __________________________
Place ______________________________ School Subject _________________________
Holiday ____________________________ Game _______________________________
- Personalized Talents and Skills
________________________________ ____________________________________
________________________________ ____________________________________
________________________________ ____________________________________
- Personal Qualities (creative, strong, peacemaker, patient, loving, etc.)
________________________________ _____________________________________
________________________________ _____________________________________
________________________________ _____________________________________
