Instructions are included in attached document
INSTRUCTIONS:
-Respond to both posts
-minimum of 250 words each
-APA format, in-text citations and references (peer-reviewed)
POST 1:
Kayla Slitcher
Coping is defined as constantly changing behavioral and cognitive efforts to manage specific demands that prove to be difficult for an individual (Gurung, 2019). This means that different coping methods should be used depending on the situation. Coping strategies are dynamic as external environments constantly change (Bose, 2023). However, certain coping strategies are more effective than others when handling stress. For example, avoidant coping can lead to a very negative impact on an individual’s emotions. By putting in the energy to avoid thinking of the stressful situation, it would be better to put that energy into trying to better the situation. If someone is stressed out about their finances but, avoids paying all their bills, this will lead to an increase in stress later on. A better way to handle the situation would be to use problem-focused coping. This involves facing the stressful situation head-on and working to resolve it (Gurung, 2019).
In my opinion, problem-focused coping is not always the best option. In certain situations, it may be better to utilize an emotion-focused strategy. Emotion-focused coping strategies can reduce the intensity of a negative emotion associated with a stressful situation (Bose, 2023). For example, practicing mindfulness and meditation is a great emotion-focused coping strategy. Techniques like deep breathing and yoga can help calm the mind and reduce the focus being placed on stress. The effectiveness of a coping strategy depends on the personality of the individual. If it were me, I would need to use an emotion-focused coping method first. I would follow this up by using a problem-focused method. I don’t want to avoid the problem. However, if my anxiety is high and my negative emotions are taking over, I will not be able to effectively solve the problem.
Another effective coping strategy is social support. The people within an individual’s social circle greatly influence the level of stress and support that one feels. If someone feels supported by their social circle, they may not get stressed out as quickly knowing they have people to rely on. Different sources of support can result in different outcomes, so it is important to be critical about who to rely on for that support. Overall, I do not believe there is one specific coping method that works the best. It depends on the individual’s personality and how they handle stressful situations. Both relaxation-based approaches and cognitive-behavioral approaches are effective methods depending on the situation.
Bose, I. (2023). Coping strategy, hardiness & stress tolerance of millennial bank executives in India.
Indian Journal of Industrial Relations,
58(4).
Gurung, R. A. R. (2019).
Health psychology: well-being in a diverse world (4th ed.). Sage.
POST 2:
Kylee Leyva
While our bodies may have the same physical reactions to stress, such as lower processing and cognitive abilities or increased blood pressure (Yaribeygi et al., 2017), mentally everyone tolerates it and copes in different ways. There is no right or wrong way to deal with your stress; what there is, however, is a healthy way to deal with your stress. One study found that when psychiatrists were dealing with work, personal, or financial stress, their methods of dealing with stress were all constructive (Fothergill et al., 2004). Some dealt with their stress by journaling, others exercised, and some focused their attention on their families and friends to produce serotonin and lower cortisol. In another study highlighting the healthy versus unhealthy, the unhealthy coping skills included substance abuse, acting out towards loved ones, or overspending leading to overdraft funds (Patterson et al., 2005). This research shows that on one hand, there are unhealthy ways to cope with stress. One should work to avoid unhealthy strategies to navigate the lowering of their stress levels. But when analyzing the “best way to cope” I would say that there isn’t one, so long as it is healthy. It is dependent on the person and the way their brain tolerates and analyzes their stress.
For example, my boyfriend manages his stress levels through exercise. When he begins to feel overwhelmed or something is weighing on his mind, he likes to go to the gym. It helps center his mind and clear it so that he can manage it and navigate the stressors without it consuming him. For me, I enjoy traveling up to the lake or over to the beach. Being near a large body of water and sitting in silence helps me clear my mind and center myself so that I may filter through my emotions and manage them without bottling them up before exploding. While both of our methods are healthy and the best for us, his method does not work for me. While exercise is a great distraction, it is exactly that for me: a distraction. This means after I exercise, my stress comes flooding back to me. I need peace and to feel at peace to process my feelings. And while peace works for me, and it’s healthy, it overwhelms him. Both of our coping mechanisms are healthy, and we are positively dealing with our stress, doesn’t make the fact that his one is wrong and mine is right. We are both right. So when asked the question, what do I believe is the best way of coping with stress, I would reply, “whatever is healthy and works best for you.”
References:
Fothergill, A., Edwards, D., & Burnard, P. (2004). Stress, burnout, coping and stress management in psychiatrists: findings from a systematic review.
International Journal of Social Psychiatry,
50(1), 54-65.
Patterson, C. R., Bennett, J. B., & Wiitala, W. L. (2005). Healthy and unhealthy stress unwinding: Promoting health in small businesses.
Journal of Business and Psychology,
20(2), 221-247.
Yaribeygi, H., Panahi, Y., Sahraei, H., Johnston, T. P., & Sahebkar, A. (2017). The impact of stress on body function: A review.
EXCLI journal,
16, 1057.
