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List of Negative Coping Skills

The ways in which people handle different situations and circumstances are called coping skills. Coping skills can vary -- some being bad and others being good. Knowing how to positively handle especially stressful situations is very important to the overall health and mental well-being of the person experiencing a difficult emotional time in life. Knowing how to recognize negative coping skills will save you a lot of time -- and, more important, pain.

  1. Self-Pity

    • Being overly critical of yourself is a major sign of negative coping. Avoid comparing yourself to others who you might see as somehow "better." For example, sometimes people put celebrities on a pedestal and compare themselves to such individuals, thus creating irrational judgments. Avoid self-blame and self-inflicted verbal abuse, for example, saying things like "I am a loser."

    Addictions

    • Using medications -- prescription pills and otherwise -- and liquor to deal with problems is a very negative coping skill. This not only does not solve any problems that may be going on, but it begins a new problem that may be even harder to get rid of. Even food can become a negative addiction a person uses to handle stress.

    Social Withdrawal

    • Avoiding family and loved ones is bad while going through any stressful situation because it will only making getting over the problem harder. Having family and friends around to help support and work through problems is vital. Having people to talk to will allow you to vent your worries and frustrations in a healthy and positive way. You'll also see that you are not alone.

    Revenge

    • Wanting or attempting to hurt someone else out of pain is extremely negative. Again, like drugs and alcohol, this can have even larger consequences that are harder to overcome -- including jail.

    Denial

    • Ignoring a situation or problem is not going to make it go away. In this case, not dealing with it will only make healing from it take even longer. Sometimes once the denial phase has ended, being able to cope with the reality of the situation becomes harder.

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