35 Ways To Inculcate Coping Skills In Teens

Children can be more vulnerable to extreme feelings of sadness, happiness, anguish, and anger. It may occur due to higher sensitivity among teenagers to their surroundings and such feelings. In such cases, effective coping skills for teens can help them deal with the pressures of life and their careers.

Teenagers may not show it, but they face various emotional challenges, often evident through different signs. This can be tougher since such talks about feelings are seldom discussed between children and parents. Unaddressed issues can lead to negative feelings or emotions and destroy a child’s psyche. Issues of anger or decreased self-esteem may stem from such issues. Therefore, the right coping skills can help the teen avoid a plethora of issues.

Read on to know about 35 different coping skills for teens to help them manage their emotions effectively and smartly.

Types Of Coping Strategies

There are many types of coping strategies that can be used as per an individual’s requirement (1). However, they can be broadly classified into the following strategies.

1. Appraisal-focused

In this strategy, the person changes the way they think by changing their values or goals.

2. Adaptive behavior

This strategy is used to deal with the cause of the problem instead of the problem itself.

3. Emotion-focused

This strategy includes methods that will help a person manage their emotions by using diversionary or calming methods.

4. Reactivity or proactivity

This strategy involves a person reacting to a problem by solving it or planning for it proactively before it occurs.

5. Social

This method includes seeking social support from others as a coping mechanism.

6. Humor

It is used to look upon problems in a humorous light, hence being able to remain positive in the worst times.

35 Ways To Enhance Coping Skills In Teens

Children who learn to manage their feelings are more likely to lead a healthy and well-balanced life in adulthood (2). It may also reduce the teen’s chances of relying on pernicious coping mechanisms, such as substance abuse and unlawful activities. Parents need to make child understand that some emotions are temporary.

1. Exercise regularly

Exercise is a great way to remove the excess negative energies from your body and fill your body with the feel-good hormones called endorphins. A run or a brisk walk when upset clears the mind and reduces stress.

2. Have a good diet

A good diet consisting of all the nutrients and calories you need to get through the day will ensure that you do not get stressed too much. When you are hungry or if you eat junk food a lot, your body is unable to cope with stress.

3. Reduce caffeine

Caffeine is a strong stimulant (3). Excess caffeine could increase anxiety and restlessness, interfering with our sleep patterns. Teens must keep their caffeine intake minimal or avoid it if they easily become anxious due to a stressful situation.

4. Have a social network

However busy you might be with studies and assignments, it is necessary to have a friend circle to support you through rough times. Even if you are an introvert, having a couple of close friends helps.

5. Avoid alcohol

There is a reason why the legal age for consuming alcohol is 21 (4). However, many teens are pushed into drinking by their peers; refusing might lead to social ostracization. Teens must avoid alcohol consumption and the use of tobacco or narcotics to cope with stress since these habits harm both physically and mentally.

6. Name the emotions

Many teenagers struggle with their emotions because they simply do not know what those emotions are. Naming these emotions can remove the unknown factor from the emotions, and your teens will be able to deal with them better.

7. Learn breathing techniques

Breathing exercises are one of the most effective ways to deal with anxiety and stress. Taking deep breaths and focusing on the breath can help your teen relax their minds.

8. Create art

Be it drawing, painting, or making new craftwork, art is always useful in making the mind concentrate on something positive. You can invest in simple paints, brushes, and other art supplies to help your teen vent out their emotions through art.

9. Read

Reading a book is the ultimate escape from reality. A teenager who is encouraged to read can escape into a story that will help focus their minds and offer a distraction from anxiety.

10. Play games

Games can take your mind right off almost any trouble or stressful situation. Be it video games or an old-fashioned board game, your mind can relax and forget anxiety when facing other challenges ahead.

11. Practice yoga

Yoga is one of the best ways to relax your mind and bring balance to your body. There are many online yoga courses, and you can select one based on your convenience and skill level.

12. Listen to music

Even for adults, music is therapeutic. Calming music is known to bring peace to your mind. You can listen to the music of your choice or even create a tune of your own if you can make music to calm your anxiety.

13. Watch funny videos

The internet is full of funny videos of dogs, cats, babies, and people making humorous mistakes. Pick your choice and watch these videos until you feel calm enough.

14. Learn relaxation exercises

While breathing exercises are a form of relaxation exercises, other exercises can also help you relax. Abdominal breathing and muscle-relaxing are some amazing exercises that can help reduce stress.

15. Increase positive self-talk

We become what we think. Our innermost thoughts unconsciously influence us. You have to make an effort to track your thoughts and change negative thoughts into positive ones.

16. Spend time with a pet

Pets have a positive calming effect on their owners (5). Most pets can understand their owners’ moods and will actively try to reduce their anxiety levels in some way or another.

17. Volunteer

Many times, doing something selfless for someone can lift you out of depression and anxiety. Look out for a nearby soup kitchen or an animal shelter and offer to volunteer for a day.

18. Organize

Take one day to organize your space. If your room is a mess with your books and clothes lying all around, take some time to organize them well. A clean space creates a calming environment.

19. Declutter

This strategy goes hand-in-hand with organizing your space. Decluttering your space of unwanted things can be very helpful in clearing your mind. In general, you can get rid of broken or damaged things and those you haven’t used in a year.

20. Start the day with positive affirmations

Saying positive affirmations to yourself in the morning is one of the best ways to overcome stress. Look at yourself in the mirror and say things like, “Today is a good day,” or “Today I will overcome this problem.”

21. Go outside

Stepping outside the house can go a long way in reducing anxiety. You can take a leisurely walk in a nearby park or even stroll around your plants on the balcony. Spending time with nature settles your senses and brings peace.

22. Meditate

Make sure you devote at least ten minutes of your day to meditation. You can download a meditation or mindfulness app on your phones and use them daily.

23. Make a list of mood boosters

There are some things you do when you are happy. These are usually the same things you do to cheer yourself when your mood is low. Make a list of these activities, such as dancing, singing, or writing poems, and display it at a place where you can see it. Adopt one mood booster each time you feel low.

24. Make a calming kit

Every teen has certain sensations that help them calm down. Some of them can be visual, others could be related to the sense of smell, hearing, or touch. Make a kit that contains the things that make you happy. You can use the kit to calm yourself when you are distressed.

25. Ask for help

We usually feel lonely when we are stressed or depressed. Overcome this issue by asking for help whenever possible. Parents can apply this strategy by encouraging their teens to talk to them.

26. Visualize a happy place

This strategy needs some thinking, practice, and concentration. But once you get the hang of it, you can easily close your eyes and imagine yourself in a happy place and provide yourself with a temporary distraction. It can even fill you with positive emotions to tackle the problem at hand.

27. Drink tea

The very act of making tea acts as a stress reliever. But tea also contains chemicals that help in reducing stress levels in your body (6). Drinking a hot cup of tea can make a lot of difference in your mental state.

28. Compliment someone

As contradictory as it sounds, complimenting others when you are anxious makes you feel better. You are making an effort to make another person feel better, and it automatically reflects on your mental state as well.

29. Write in your diary

Writing is a form of exercise that allows you to remove all your thoughts and put them on paper. In fact, once you write it all down, you can look at your anxieties and feelings with a new perspective and they might even seem trivial.

30. Knit or sew

Just like drawing and coloring, knitting and sewing are incredibly calming activities. The simple act of following patterns and moving the needles in a certain repetitive motion helps calm your mind.

31. Swim

Swimming is not only a great exercise, but it can also double up as a coping method for teens. It can help eliminate anxiety and tension and fill your mind with calmness.

32. Make a gratitude list

In your happier moods, make a gratitude list and put it somewhere you can see it easily. Take a look at the list whenever you feel low, so that you have something positive to appreciate.

33. Count in reverse from 100

Counting in reverse from 100 is easier said than done. You will have to concentrate on the numbers to get them right. It is a great way to divert your focus from negative thoughts and calm your mind.

34. Splash cool water on your face

Whenever you are feeling anxious, splashing cold water on your face helps a lot. It can reduce anxiety, make you feel refreshed, and may even reduce your heart rate due to stress.

35. Call a friend or close relative

Have a friend or a relative you can call anytime to speak your heart out without worrying about being judged. It could be your best friend, girlfriend/boyfriend, or even a favorite uncle.

References

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Reviewer

Dr. Neha MehtaMD

   

Gold medalist Neha Mehta is an RCI-registered psychologist, certified relationship and child psychologist, and a well-known parenting coach practicing in Haryana. She has ten years of experience in the field of counseling.

Read full bio of Dr. Neha Mehta