feature image via shutterstock.com
Hey there dream weavers! Do you know what day it is? It’s Friday! And you do you know what we do on Fridays? We talk about our feelings! So it should come as no surprise that it’s time for this week’s Friday Open Thread.
Two weeks ago we made some Fall Resolutions. We thought about how this year getting “back to school” would be different and all the changes we were going to make. Some of those panned out, others didn’t. That’s okay! Still, I bet for some people with all these big plans came some anxiety or anger. Maybe some of us know that going into the cold weather means the onset of some seasonal sadness or depression. That’s why this week I’m thinking a lot about positive coping skills!
Positive coping skills are healthy ways to deal with anxiety, depression and anger. Things that you know preemptively to use to help you to cope with stress or difficult situations. You know, things other than outbursts, self medication, anxious avoidance or self harm. The good stuff that helps you get through the bad shit.
I have a lot of trouble with anxiety. Like anxiety about being busy with school, when relationships are good, when relationships are bad, and generally existing in this world as a human person. But fortunately over the years I’ve developed some really great positive coping skills! Here are some of my most-used coping skills:
- When I feel extremely overwhelmed by the number of things I have to do that day, I write them all down in sharpie on a sheet of computer paper, cross off two that I’m not going to do and check each other thing as I complete it.
- In all sorts of stressful situations, I calmly repeat affirmations in my head. Some of my favorites are “I have other strengths,” “I don’t have to be the best,” “I accept things the way they are” and “That is in the past and I’m moving forward.”
- When I feel jittery and overwhelmed I take five deep slow breaths. If that doesn’t work I take a hot shower and take deep breaths in the shower.
- If deep breaths doesn’t work, I do guided meditation and mindfulness, focusing on each part of my body feeling relaxed.
- When I feel frustrated by a situation I write a list of things that I like about that situation or are funny about that situation.
So those are some of my coping skills! Maybe you have others! Maybe yours involve going for a run or drawing or calling your best friend! Whatever you do I want to know how you keep yourself going! Tell me how you are all actively and positively coping with the changing weather and our changing moods!
How To Post A Photo In The Comments:
1. Find a photo!This is the easy part. Find a photo on the web, right click (on a Mac, control+click), hit “Copy Image URL” and then…
2. Code it in to your comment! Use the following code, and use a DIRECT LINK to the image. Your image link should end in .JPG or .GIF or .PNG or .CallMeWhateverYouWant even. I don’t care, but it should be an image suffix!
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If you need to upload the photo you love from your computer, try using imgur. To learn more, check out Ali’s step-by-step guide.
How To Post A Video In The Comments, Too:
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3. Go forth and jam.
