Coping and Management of Stress

Coping is a dynamic situation-specific reaction to stress. It is a set of responses to the stressful situation that aim at reducing the stress, for example: Running away from your mom after the results are out 😂

The way we cope with stress is dependent on 2 factors, our past experiences and the resources we have. Say, if we are not prepared for an exam 😨, our past experiences(last moment studying or cheating) and our resources at the situation (our friends 😂) will determine our fear in the situation. 



The three strategies given by Endler and Parker are: 


  1. Task-Oriented strategy- In this, the person decides to tackle the situation mindfully and search for courses of plan and action. Example: Asking for notes of the class you missed.

  2. Emotion-Oriented strategy- During this, the person usually tries to maintain hope and control emotions. Venting out, anger, and running away from the situation are common practices. Example: Losing hope before trying the test.


  3. Avoidance-Oriented strategy- Usually, there is denying the seriousness of the situation and suppression of stressful thoughts. Example: Denying if you fail this exam, you will fail the semester 

            



Talking about management of stress, here are few ways to do so- 


  1. Organizing is the key- When things are haphazardly arranged, it is human to freak out and lose your mind over it (trust me, I am the worst when it comes to this ☹). However, if you plan everything beforehand by making a to-do list, it will save you a lot of time and energy. The key is to stick with the plan, and voila, you can combat the monster of stress!



  2. Say NO to Coffee- The enemy in disguise- I am pretty sure, most of our readers believe that coffee is the answer to every little inconvenience but stop the urge when under stress. It accelerates the production of hormones (cortisol) which can cause you to stress more. It stimulates fight and flight responses and can even trigger anxiety attacks. As a coffee lover, I strongly recommend you to not drink it no matter what.



  3. Enough sleep - Sleeping too little or too much can cause you to feel tired. If continued for a long duration, it can cause health problems. When these health problems are added to you already overwhelming could be a dangerous duo and worsen the situation. You will be mentally as well as physically restricted to carry out tasks simply. Sleep deprivation can cause late reflexes and degrades the thinking capability of an individual. 💤



 

The coping mechanism differs from person to person. For example, breathing exercises and reassurance help me out the most. What works for me might not work for you, and it is normal. If the techniques mentioned above do not work out for you, you can always use the method of ‘hit and trial’ and find something! Incorporating these techniques can be challenging at first, but it is nothing to be worried about. With time, you will be habitual to these methods. We believe in you besties 💚


Kritika Chhetri and Ishita Sharma

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