Episode 7 - Coping Mechanisms for Stress

Show Notes: Ep 7 Coping Mechanisms

Coping Mechanisms - When dealing with chronic stress it's not uncommon to use improvised help tactics such as self-medication, food binging, social self isolation, or gallows humour etc. This may assist in the short term, but can likely cause other issues such as addiction, or can damage our career.

If you are feeling stressed the best thing you can do is attempt to identify the cause/s. This will then allow you to address them.

Whether we realise it or not, it is likely that we will all employ some form of coping mechanism to help us beat stress. However, these can range from helpful to harmful.

https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/self-help/guides-tools-and-activities/tips-to-reduce-stress/

https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/mental-health-issues/stress/#top-tips

Gallows Humour - This can help to relieve tension connected with traumatic incidents, lower blood pressure and anxiety, and increase the immune system.

However, humour is subjective and so what is funny to one person may be upsetting or offensive to someone else. Also inappropriate humour is an increasing reason for disciplinary action. Really important that the public are not exposed to such humour.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/crisis-control/202006/in-praise-gallows-humor

Escapism - This is good in moderation, but may become an issue if it becomes a person’s primary coping mechanism as it may exacerbate self neglect, obsession, addiction, or even depression.

https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/forms-of-escapism

Substance Useage / Self medication - May include smoking / vaping; alcohol; use of illegal / prescription / over the counter drugs; inappropriate food consumption (stress eating). Repeated use will only temporaily mask stress, not reduce it. You will never know that you are addicted until you are.