Positive and Negative Coping Behaviours

Positive coping behaviours

Everyone experiences stress from time to time. It could be due to deadlines at work, arguments with a friend, or chores at home. Feeling stressed might make you worried, angry, irritated or annoyed. To deal with these feelings and feel better, you could engage in healthy behaviours and habits.

• Walking is one of the most convenient ways to reduce stress as it triggers the release of endorphins that make you feel relaxed and even relieve pain. These endorphins induce a sense of calm and well-being.
• Climbing the stairs is a physical activity that can be carried out easily. When you climb up and down, your body releases "feel-good" hormones which are natural pain relievers, and can greatly reduce feelings of stress.
• Stress caused by negative, worrying thoughts could prevent you from sleeping well. Jogging improves sleep by reducing this stress.
• Research shows that cycling reduces symptoms of stress and leaves you feeling more calm and focused.
• Skipping reduces stress by releasing endorphins which are not only pain relievers, but also create a sense of calm and well-being.
• Deep breathing can immediately help you to relax and reduce the production of stress hormones. In the long run, it can improve focus, brain functioning, and benefit the body's digestion and immune system.
• Laughter can be beneficial as it lowers the levels of stress hormones in the body and simultaneously increases the levels of "feel-good" hormones.
• Going outside exposes your body to sunlight, giving you a vitamin D boost. This can make you feel energised and reduce your feelings of stress.
• Talking about the problem gives you a chance to get support from others and helps you to see the problem in a different light.

Negative coping behaviours

On the other hand, you might also have a few unhelpful and unhealthy habits to cope with stress. While they might provide immediate relief, they might be harmful for your physical and emotional well-being in the long run.

• Drinking alcohol can have a negative impact on the body and brain. Over time, alcohol consumption can lead you to feel depressed and anxious, making it more difficult for you to deal with stress.
• Caffeine gives you a rush of energy in the short run, making you feel more focussed and attentive. However, over time, regularly consuming caffeine can make you feel more agitated and tired.
• By affecting various organ systems and the levels of hormones in the body, stress can cause changes in appetite, leading you to eat either more or less than usual.
• Stress can make it difficult to get a good night's sleep, and sleep deprivation can further worsen stress and anxiety. On the other hand, because stress causes fatigue, you may find ourselves sleeping more than usual.
• When you don't reach out to someone, you may feel more stressed and anxious about the situation. Talking to your loved ones can make you believe in your ability to cope with the stressful situation.
• When you avoid your problems, you are not giving yourself a chance to understand and process the problem. While ignoring it may help for a while, you will only feel more stressed until you deal with it.
• Habits like pacing, nail biting, and chewing the lip can offer some momentary relief from stress. However, not only can such habits be harmful, but they also fail to address the real problem.
• Under certain circumstances, stress can make you withdraw from daily activities and situations. While this might protect you from the stressful situation, avoiding the problem can make it worse in the long run.