coping mechanism
Psychological defense tool
A coping mechanism is a strategy—conscious or unconscious—for managing stress, anxiety, or difficult emotions.
Some are healthy: exercise, talking to friends, deep breathing.
Others are maladaptive: substance abuse, denial, avoidance.
Psychology distinguishes between problem-focused coping (addressing the source) and emotion-focused coping (managing feelings): Humor is my main coping mechanism.
- mental healthEmotional and cognitive well-being
- distractionThing diverting one's attention
- emotional regulationManaging internal feeling states
- mindfulnessAwareness of the present
- acceptanceConsent to receive
adaptation · self-soothing · crying · relaxation techniques · problem-solving · exercise · taking a walk · venting · deep breathing · counting to ten · sublimation · nervous habits · dissociation · self-medication · journaling · hobbies · grounding techniques · affirmations
- behaviorshabit, aggressive, agitation, conduct, passive
- learned behaviorshabit, routine, skill, trained response, conditioned reflex
- psychology termsmotivation, habits, self-knowledge, stress, intuition
- learned responsesconditioned reflex, classical conditioning, salivation, aversion, avoidance
- psychobabbletriggered, gaslighting, toxic, trauma bond, narcissist
- psychological phrasesinner child, cognitive dissonance, id, ego, superego
coping mechanismmaladaptive behavior
Harmful patterns undermining wellbeing
self-destructive behavior · self-sabotage · defense mechanism · avoidance · acting out
coping mechanismstressor
Strain-inducing factor
trauma · trigger · crisis · problem · root cause
coping mechanismhelplessness
Lacking ability to cope
learned helplessness · breakdown · collapse · decompensation · resignation