Problem-Focused Coping And/or Emotion-Focused Coping
In the beginning of the semester, I was very stressed up and overwhelmed about schoolwork and helping my mother with some work at home. I thought I was the only one left behind in research since my friends seemed to be doing well with homework and classwork. I thought I would fail the tests, with all the thoughts preventing me from maintaining focus. I decided to talk to the school counsellor who reminded me of two stress coping mechanisms of problem-focused and emotion-focused coping.
Problem focused required that I put forward effort to alter and manager the stress and circumstance, through goal setting, self-talk and time management (Van den Brande et al., 2020). Emotion focused coping would require that I regulated my emotional responses based on the problem, through medication or relaxing (Van den Brande et al., 2020). I discovered that problem-focused coping worked best for me, since the root of my problems was a lack of planning well, and managing my time well. There was little work at home and at school, yet I would keep procrastinating and do these in the last minute. I was very unorganized and was in constant competition with other classmates. Based on my counselling session, I decided to gain a better perspective on the situation, through identifying that I needed to focus on myself and my capabilities, and work on them. I encouraged myself and came up with a time table which I still use to this date. Since then, I can no longer complain about schoolwork.
Approach Vs. Avoidance Coping in The Context of Stress Related to Illness
Approach coping involves, focusing on a stressor actively, to obtain data, to make future plans, and try involving and seeking social support (Allen, 2021). It can also entail vigilance, where a person deals with the stress through processing bad information sad information regarding the chronic illness or enhancing attention. Approach coping has predicted enhanced relationship functioning among clients with severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Avoidance coping is a form of coping where a person alters their character to avoid doing difficult tasks, feeling sad about certain situations and thinking about these situations (Allen, 2021). In the context of an illness, specifically a chronic illness, people tend to be anxious. They develop avoidance techniques such as self-blame, denial and behavioural disengagement. these avoidant coping strategies are usually linked to poorer health. To those suffering from chronic illness, perceiving an illness to have more consequences is linked to more avoidant coping and has adverse impacts on the overall health. People use avoidant coping when they feel they cannot control their illness. The adverse impacts of avoidant coping include severe depression, and panic attacks.
Improving Coping Skills
Coping is interpreted a series of behavioural and cognitive strategies that people use to manage stress (Allen, 2021). People experiencing stress due to chronic illness can utilize instrumental support as a coping strategy to develop resilience. A person believes that their illness will only last for a short period of time in this case, and develops a more positive attitude. Regardless of the illness, a person has to develop an ability to live with the stressors. To manage these stressors, a person can try to make each day meaningful by doing something that gives them a sense of attainment and purpose and set goals that show a future with more meaning. Also, a patient can remain hopeful by understanding the past cannot be changed, but they can make the present easier through adapting to, accepting and anticipating change. These will ensure that they view the current circumstance with less anxiety.
References
Allen, M. T. (2021). Explorations of avoidance and approach coping and perceived stress with a computer-based avatar task: detrimental effects of resignation and withdrawal. PeerJ, 9, e11265. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8053377/
Van den Brande, W., Baillien, E., Elst, T. V., De Witte, H., & Godderis, L. (2020). Coping styles and coping resources in the work stressors–workplace bullying relationship: A two-wave study. Work & Stress, 34(4), 323-341. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02678373.2019.1666433
