Proven Strategies for Coping With Stress

Proven Strategies for Coping With Stress Stress Management Management Techniques Print Proven Strategies for Coping With Your Stress By Elizabeth Scott, MS twitter Elizabeth Scott, MS, is a wellness coach specializing in stress management and quality of life, and the author of 8 Keys to Stress Management. Learn about our editorial policy Elizabeth Scott, MS Updated on October 23, 2019 How Stress Impacts Your Health Overview Signs of Burnout Stress and Weight Gain Benefits of Exercise Stress Reduction Tips Self-Care Practices Mindful Living Hero Images/Getty Images When coping with stress, it can sometimes be difficult to know where to even begin, though there is no shortage of advice that may come your way. Should you tackle the problem head-on? Or should you simply need to change how you think about the stressors you face? Is there a specific way to make your stress dissolve so that coping with stress becomes a no-brainer? And how can you best choose the appropriate method for coping with stress? The bad news is that its not always easy to cope with stress. its usually a process, and the right answer isnt always clear. The good news is that it becomes easier and easier to cope with stress once you become aware of what works best for you and in which situations each strategy is most helpful. More good news is that there are few wrong answers when it comes to coping. Its usually a case of choosing between strategies that work okay and strategies that work great, depending on your situation. (There are a few unhealthy responses to stress that you should look out for, however, like excessive drinking or obsessive worrying, but most of the coping strategies you intentionally use are helpful to some degree.) There are several different strategies that people use for coping with stress, and each type of coping strategy brings unique benefits. Finding the best match of strategies for your situation is the key to maximizing your stress management efforts. Simply put, when coping with stress, the following two main strategies are useful: solution-based coping and appraisal-based coping. Solution-Based Coping With Stress When someone employs solution-based coping strategies for coping with stress, they work to identify areas of their lives that can be changed, and follow a plan that will bring about change. Solution-based coping includes eliminating stressors, like quitting a stressful job, breaking up with a toxic partner, or paring down a busy schedule, as a means of eliminating the stress before you encounter more of it. This solution-based approach can be an extremely effective technique for coping with stress, and many of the uncomfortable emotions we experience along with stress such as anxiety, anger, frustration are signals that changes need to be made. Sometimes, however, we find ourselves in stressful situations where we can’t make changes in our lives and can’t eliminate the stressors that we experience. For example, we might be working at a job we can’t easily leave, and need to get along with difficult co-workers; we may find that our partner causes us stress, but is worth staying with anyway; we may find that every activity in our busy schedule is vital, and can’t be eliminated. In cases like these, we still have the option of appraisal-based coping with stress. Appraisal-Based Coping With Stress This strategy of coping with stress involves how we feel about the stressors we face throughout the day. Appraisal-based coping strategies include cognitive restructuring, positive thinking, and humor. Asking yourself whether something really needs to cause stress or can just be accepted as part of life, finding the humor in the ridiculousness of a stressful situation, or finding someone who seems to be coping with stress in a particular way and exploring their attitude are all effective appraisal-based coping strategies. A Word From Verywell While solution-based and appraisal-based coping mechanisms can both offer relief, it’s sometimes difficult to know when something can (and should) be changed versus when it should be dealt with through acceptance. In fact, the famous serenity prayer that’s been so helpful in programs like AA is all about these two styles of coping: “God grant me the strength to change what I can, the patience to accept what I can’t change, and the wisdom to know the difference.” Often, the most effective approach is one that includes both coping strategies.