Coping From Stress

Coping

          Stress is integral part of life. Every living being faces innumerable challenges almost on daily basis which tends to induce proportional stress level in the individual. The individual needs to cope with these challenges in order to have a meaningful and quality life. Coping means to invest own conscious effort, to solve personal and interpersonal problems, in order to try to master, minimize or tolerate stress and conflict (Wikipedia).

          Coping is the process of managing taxing circumstances, expending effort to solve personal and interpersonal problems, and seeking to master, minimize, reduce or tolerate stress (psychology.wiki.com). The coping from stress is achieved by employing certain actions that people can take to master, tolerate, reduce, or minimize the effect of stressors (Ciccarelli & Meyer, 2016). These actions are known as coping strategies.

Coping Strategies

1.      Problem focused coping – In this type of coping strategy people try to eliminate or change the stressor itself to reduce the impact of stressor through their actions (Folman & Lazarus, 1980). The source of stress is removed. E.g., Loud music by neighbour – Talking can solve the problem.

2.      Emotion focused coping – It is a strategy that involves changing the way a person feels or emotionally reacts to a stressful event or situation. It reduces the emotional impact of the stressor. When the person modifies the thinking process. People may alter the way they think about a problem by altering their goals and values, such as by seeing the humour in a situation (psychology.wikia.com). E.g., resorting to yogic asanas, meditation etc. to deal with stressors.

3.      Psychological defence mechanisms – These are the unconscious distortions of a person’s perception of reality that reduces stress and anxiety (Freud, 1915). Few defence mechanisms are:     

          (i)       Denial,

          (ii)      Repression,

          (iii)     Rationalization,

          (iv)     Projection,

          (v)      Regression,

          (vi)     Displacement,

          (vii)    Reaction formation,

          (viii)   Identification,

          (ix)     Compensation (substitution), and

          (x)      Sublimation.

4.      Yoga – Yoga and meditation reduces the psycho-physical suffering by improving the vitality, flow of energy and calming the mind. Yoga integrates three components: pranayama, asanas, and dhyana. The yogic practice involves stretching the body and forming different poses with relaxed and steady breathing. Yoga lifts the mood, improves sleep, increases flexibility, controls the blood pressure, optimize the body organ functioning, reduces muscle tension and anxiety, manages heart rate etc. consequently reduces the stress.

 

References:

1.       Ciccarellin, S. K & Meyer, G. E. (2016). Psychology. Chennai: Person.

2.       http://psychology.wikia.com/wiki/Coping_ behaviour.

3.       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coping_ (psychology). 

4.       https://www.azquotes.com/author/13308-Hans_Selye.

 

 

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