What Is Your Coping Style ?
March 22, 2008 5:36 pm Coping
  In previous blogs I talked about the use of  defense mechanisms  as a way of coping. I realized that I may have jumped the gun and not have described clearly what coping is.  Coping  is a word we are all familiar with and use often, but do we know what the word really means? Coping is an almost automatic psychological regulation process that we all use when we feel a little off balance psychologically. Being off balance means experiencing feelings that may be unpleasant or just unwanted such as: anger, fear, embarrassment, and even closeness or intimacy for some (and lots of variations on these.) It occurs when our emotional security and comfort level begins to feel shaken in some way. During a crisis we all use our most familiar comfortable  coping / defense  mechanisms often unconsciously.
Coping is a psychological maneuver that we use to reduce, control, or avoid unpleasant or unwanted emotions.Â
It is important to realize that coping can be at all levels of consciousness:
- Conscious—Â (we know exactly what we are doing, see Scarlet O’Hara blog)
- Subconscious—Â (we have some vague idea of what we are doing)
- Unconscious — (happens quickly, almost automatically and we are totally unaware of it)
Coping Styles tend to be one of four types.Â
Each type has its related defense mechanisms that work best for that style. Â
Coping Styles Â
- Aggressive:Â Taking charge, I will fix it!
- Regressive: Becoming less capable. Help me, I can’t do it!
- Withdrawal:Â Removing yourself from situation, avoidance
- Repressive: Pushing the situation out of your mind.
  In a previous blog, I gave you an example of a defensive mechanism that fits with the repressive coping style.   Now I would like to ask you to participate in this discussion with your comments and thoughts about the questions below.Â
- Can you name something you (or someone you know) might do (a defense mechanism) when using one or more of these styles? Don’t worry about naming it, just describe it. I will try to name it.
- Name the coping style you think is the most psychologically healthy and mature, and name the one you believe is the least healthy. (hint read previous blogs)
Â
