I know this is an old thread, but I thought it could be beneficial to fill out, as well as a coping method in itself
Do you use coping methods (healthy ones... ) in combination or just on their own?
- I use them often on their own, though listening to music I've found to be helpful, and I'll sometimes listen to music while drawing or while hugging a stuffed animal
Name something that helps you to cope beginning with the letter 'A'.
- Lets see...Animals (my cat, normally not affectionate, came and cuddled with me when I was feeling urgy...but stuffed animals also work), Art (both playing music on the piano and drawing/painting), Aerobic behaviors (especially running)...I think that all I've got for now
Do you see coping ideas as ways to banish feelings/urges or as a way to process/deal with how you're feeling?
- I generally see them as a way to express my feelings without SI, which doesn't always mean processing, but at least admitting they're there
What's your favourite coping thing?
- My favorite is probably art expressions. Playing the piano usually is really helpful, but I have to be feeling okay enough to have the motivation. When I'm really bad, one of the most effective is to draw on myself with a red marker
When you're walking and you're nervous/anxious what do you do to cope with that?
- Listening to my Ipod is really helpful if I have that, since songs can distract me from my problems. I also sometimes will count my steps, focus on my breathing, or focusing on phrases like "this will pass" (thanks to the therapist for giving me that one)
Describe how you could cope with one piece of paper and one art material of your choice.
- If I'm feeling really urgy, my art material of choice would be oil pastels. Sometimes drawing an arm with cuts on it is helpful. What I've been doing lately is drawing a really big open cut, and then turning it into something pretty, like a gorgeous evening dress or a christmas ornament. When I'm done it doesn't look at all like a cut and I guess its sort of showing myself that there are other ways of expressing myself...not sure if that makes sense...but there it is
Do you try to view situations from a different perspective before trying to find something to help you cope? If you do, can you give an example of how you turned it around?
- A lot of times when I start getting upset about something I'll try to focus on the temporary nature of whatever it is, or convince myself that it really isn't that big of a deal
Have you ever made an emergency book or box? If not, would you like to?
- I haven't made one of these but I'd like to. Right now my drawer beside my bed is where I keep all my art supplies, but I'd like to have things besides art stuff to help me otu
If I gave you £10 what coping things would you most like to buy?
- Well....I think thats about $20....so I'd buy new piano music probably, since concentrating on learning something new can be really helpful and distracting for a long while...plus, its something that gets me out of my room. With any money left over I'd buy a really good easy read book.
Do you have a portable coping things to put in your bag? If so, what do you have?
- The only things I carry around that can be somewhat helpful are a book (just something that can distract me from the world for a while), and a stone heart thing that my friend gave me that reminds me of my friends
Its funny, but all this coping stuff forces you to spend time on yourself, which I think is a really good thing
