Help When You Need It Most…
If you are facing Fearful Odds, many professional organizations can provide support and assistance.
Recognizing the need is the first step.
File Name | Size (KB) | Download |
2014 Aug 19 Combat Stress Article.pdf | 864 |
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Psychology Today.pdf | 205 |
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Rising Number of Veterans Seek Help Decades After War part 1.pdf | 207 |
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Rising Number of Veterans Seek Help Decades After War part 2.pdf | 61 |
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Coping Mechanisms vs. Defense Mechanisms
Understanding the difference between “coping mechanisms” and “defense mechanisms” is essential in the treatment of PTSD.
For most of my life, I have used these terms interchangeably, however they are not.
In psychiatric terms, there is a clear distinction:
Coping Mechanism: an adaptation to environmental stress that is based on conscious or unconscious choice and that enhances control over behavior or gives psychological comfort.
Defense Mechanism: an unconscious process, as denial, that protects an individual from unacceptable or painful ideas or impulses.
Throughout this journey, I employed my own defense mechanisms to deal with post-traumatic experiences.
These were all generally positive pursuits, relating to my family activities, my business and my gardens.
Despite appearances to the contrary, I was often unconsciously going through the motions that had become familiar to me which inhibited any progress that I was making.
What I have learned from Fearful Odds is that there are positive coping mechanisms also referred to as “strategies” and “skills” that can be employed to deal with post-traumatic events to reduce stress levels, enhance control, and consciously adapt to the situation in real time.
I hope you will find the following list of coping mechanisms helpful.
- Professional counseling & therapy
- Writing. Journals. Music. Creative pursuits as healthy diversions.
- Live more in the present. Verbalize thoughts and inner conversations. Recognize that the conversation is occurring in your head and get it out.
- Understand the difference between “Coping Mechanisms” and “Defense Mechanisms”. Invest time and resources in positive pursuits and work that brings pleasure, but not to excess or as a means of blocking out feelings.
- Discussion groups – not for everyone. Avoid isolation.
- Rebuild personal relationships with those that are possible. Let go of the rest.
- Study cognitive behavior therapy to understand triggers and coping mechanisms
- Recognize toxic individuals and environments. Learn to manage both immediate and long term impact of these experiences.
- Create 2 positive thoughts for every negative one; then 3:1; 4:1, etc.
- Exercise and work to improve personal skills on a regular routine. Breathing exercises. 4-7-8
- Develop and explore new hobbies. Be social. Engage in activities with other people. Take risks in this area.
- Expand charitable work but be comfortable to allow others to be in charge. Volunteer at a school, church or food bank
- Spend quality time with pets – a great resource for unconditional love.
- Understand partners & family member needs. Reply as a mentor not as if it is a threat. Project sincere, positive attitude.
- 50 smiles a day.
- Initiate your own intervention. Ask for understanding. Inform and educate.
- Recognize that the future depends on settling with the past.
- Maintain a daily log of elements that do not fit into a coping mechanism category. Once these thoughts are routinely listed, they tend to leave your consciousness.