1. The Importance of Developing Effective Coping
Mechanisms
March 11, 2013
| Last Updated on Friday, 03 May, 2013 13:22
Coping mechanisms are the particular methods a person uses to deal with stresses or unanticipated
situations. Some people listen to music, others have rituals or routines that they do to keep their minds
off the situation. Some people pray and others will just repeat a particular phrase or saying. These
Coping mechanisms can be positive or negative and if negative, need to be stopped.
Self Injury is a common coping mechanism for people whether they realize it or not. Nail biting, hair
pulling, pinching, cheek or lip chewing, and cutting or burning yourself are all common forms of self
injury. Obviously some are more severe than others, but all can have negative consequences affecting a
person’s health and appearance.
Drug use is another common negative coping mechanism. When I say drugs, I include Alcohol. The
only difference between the two is one is socially acceptable in this country. People turn to drugs for
comfort and escape because they are instantaneous and effective. Not all drug use is for these purposes
however. Some people use drugs for fun, others for religious reasons. We aren’t talking about them
however, we’re here to talk about the ones who use drugs because they had a bad day. The ones who
get high because they can’t handle the stress of their everyday lives. These people have negative coping
mechanisms with long term consequences.
Trouble With Coping
One of the major problems with this coping method is that while it is extremely effective at first,
eventually it becomes a major problem in its own right. Then, you need a way to cope with the original
problems There are others with co occuring disorders such as schizophrenia that face twice the battle,
addiction and mental illness. AND the problem that the drug addiction has become, not to mention any
problems that may have resulted from the drug abuse, like imprisonment, illness, debt, and so forth.
Drug abuse is a temporary negative solution that can have serious consequences down the road.
Another way people negatively cope with their issues is by overeating. I am currently dealing with this
and have to learn a new way to relate to food. It’s different than dealing with drug use because I don’t
have get high to live, but I do have to eat and therefore cannot completely avoid it, like I can with drug
abuse. I am learning that it isn’t just my coping mechanism that needs to change, it is my entire
relationship with food. I need to stop seeing food as a reward and attaching significance to it as
something other than stored energy.
It is that added significance that is a large part of the problem. I use it to celebrate, to mourn, to fight
boredom, to reward, and I have even used it to punish myself. Food is my one remaining vice. I have
given up drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana. I have restricted my religious practices and rituals
to conform with the norms of the people around me and so that I can have a safe place to live and good
job. Giving up this last vice is going to be difficult and if I’m not careful, I will replace it with another
after giving it up.

2. Our Staff
The staff at Lifescape Solutions are very effective at removing old coping skills and patterns and
replacing them with positive new ones. Mike “the Motivator” Ross teaches and speaks about how to
do this almost every day. He engages clients and encourages discussion during his classes and won’t
hesitate to let you know if you need to work harder. Mike is like a Coach on a sports team, he teaches
strategies and pushes his “players” to work hard and do their best and is always happy to celebrate their
success and support them in their struggles.