COPING WITH STRESS

NAME: ASHANTY MADELINE DC. CRUZ

YR. & SECTION: 1 ECE-A

Direction: Answer the instrument below on how you react to stressful situations. BE HONEST.

POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE COPING SKILLS

People react differently to stressful situations. Following is a list of what would be considered
*positive* responses. Check off the appropriate column for each item. If there are any other positive ways
you use to deal with stress, please list them at the bottom of the list.

POSITIVE RESPONSE NEVER SOMETIMES OFTEN

MEDITATE ✓
STRETCH ✓
ENGAGE IN PROGRESSIVE MUSCLE RELAXATION ✓
LISTEN TO MUSIC ✓
EXERCISE AEROBICALLY ✓
WATCH TELEVISION ✓
WATCH MOVIES ✓
READ BOOKS (COMICS, JOKES ETC.) ✓
WORK ON PUZZLE OR PLAY GAMES ✓
GO FOR A LEISURE WALK ✓
GO TO A HEALTH CLUB ✓
SPEND TIME ALONE ✓
GO FISHING OR HUNTING ✓
PARTICIPATE IN SOME FORM OF RECREATIONAL
✓
ACTIVITY
DO SOME WORK IN THE YARD ✓
SOCIALIZE WITH FRIENDS ✓
SIT OUTSIDE AND RELAX ✓
ENGAGE IN A HOBBY ✓
PLAY AN INSTRUMENT LIKE PIANO/ GUITAR ✓
 COPING WITH STRESS

Following is a list of what would be considered *negative* responses. Check off the appropriate
column for each item. If there are any other negative ways you use to deal with stress, please list them at
the bottom of the list.

NEGATIVE RESPONSE NEVER SOMETIMES OFTEN

ACT VIOLENTLY ✓
YELL AT SOMEONE ✓
OVEREAT/STRESS EATING ✓
NOT EAT FOR LONG PERIODS ✓
DRINK EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL ✓
DRINK LOTS OF COFFEE ✓
SMOKE TOBACCO ✓
KICK SOMETHING ✓
THROW SOMETHING ✓
DRIVE FAST IN A CAR ✓
PACE UP AND DOWN ✓
BITE FINGERNAILS ✓
CRITICIZE MYSELF (NEGATIVE SELF-TALK) ✓
OVERSLEEPING ✓
NOT TALKING TO OTHERS/ SELF-ISOLATION ✓

Follow-up question:

1. After answering the instrument above, do you think that you have a positive or negative coping
skills in managing your stress.

It can’t be completely avoided; I won’t deny that I do have negative coping skills and it
really shows when situations are too much to handle wherein, I can’t help but to engage in those
kinds of unwanted behaviors. At the same time, I have positive coping skills related to stress
management. Looking on the brighter side, the positive ones outweigh the negative ones based on
the number of responses and based on how frequent I commit those acts.
After answering the checklist, I realized I have been showing numerous negative
responses to stress and of course, I want to improve and make myself better so I would absolutely
try, change, and transform these into becoming positive ones. I ought to enhance or develop more
positive coping skills, put positive thoughts into practice, and behave more appropriately.

2. What may happen if you have a negative coping skill?

 COPING WITH STRESS

If an individual has a negative coping skill, the health and overall well-being of that person
could be impacted negatively. Having these negative coping skills make us more prone to
development of other psychological or mental disorders, which may lead us to worse condition. An
example for this is the possible development of anxiety disorders, or worst, depression.
People who opt to show negative behaviors in stressful situations may be able to stop, relieve, or
escape from stress in a very short time. However, in the long run, it would be really concerning as it
will just cause more and more problems in one’s mental health. All these will have a big impact in
ourselves, in our way of living, as well as to the people around us.
For instance, we tend to put ourselves, our health in harm by not sleeping or eating at all.
We may isolate ourselves from people, avoid any interaction with others, with that, we may feel
lonelier. There may be instances that we show risky behaviors, or when we try to hurt ourselves
both physically and through words or thoughts. One may torture oneself if he/ she has negative
coping skills.
Not only that, we may also hurt the people around us. Like for example, one is short-
tempered and the tendency is that, he will become violent and punch/ kick/ slap others because
that is how he vent out his stress and frustrations in life. Our negative coping skills will most
probably ruin relationships with people.
These are the reasons why we should develop positive coping skills and should not let
stress overcome us nor take over our systems.

*If your negative responses outnumber your positive responses, you have the reason to be concerned
about your stress level. You will need to try some of the positive responses in an attempt to reduce your
level of stress.