According to Lazarus, coping is defined as the efforts an individual will take to manage a potentially harmful or stressful situation (Austin & Boyd, 2015). Coping mainly falls under two groups: Problem-focused and Emotion-focused. Problem-focused coping is used when an individual feels that he or she had control over the stressful situation and takes direct measures to manage or change the stressful situation. For example, seeking social support, problem solving, and planning. Emotion-focused coping involves changing or regulating the emotional response to a stressful situation when the person believes that they have no control over the situation itself (Austin &Boyd, 2015). Coping styles are not consistent for an individual and often change
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al., 2007). According to Hager & Runtz, the same is true however even though survivors of childhood maltreatment tended to engage more in emotion-focused coping strategies the use of problem-focused coping strategies did not decrease. In addition women who were maltreated also used alternative, health promoting coping strategies and did not just focus on the avoidance coping strategies (Hager & Runtz, 2012). This shows hope that individuals continue to use problem-focused coping and if the right education is available they could start use coping strategies that will lead to positive …show more content…
The skills included in the training program were: breath awareness, body scans, guided imagery, journaling, progressive muscle relaxation, positive self-talk, meditation and mindfulness. Results of the study showed statistically significant decrease in avoidance behaviours and hyper vigilance and increase in problem solving and positive reappraisal behaviours (Wilson, 2010). Another study, aimed to find the effectiveness of expressive writing on PTSD in women with a history of childhood sexual abuse. Women were asked to come in for five treatment sessions where they were asked to write their thoughts and feelings on a stressful or traumatic event that they had experienced. Results from the study showed that expressive writing was effective in decreasing the symptoms of PTSD in women with childhood sexual abuse (Meston et. al., 2013). In addition, freestyle journaling and gratitude journaling where individuals write a short list of things for which they are grateful for have also found to be an effective coping strategy (Wilson,
al., 2007). According to Hager & Runtz, the same is true however even though survivors of childhood maltreatment tended to engage more in emotion-focused coping strategies the use of problem-focused coping strategies did not decrease. In addition women who were maltreated also used alternative, health promoting coping strategies and did not just focus on the avoidance coping strategies (Hager & Runtz, 2012). This shows hope that individuals continue to use problem-focused coping and if the right education is available they could start use coping strategies that will lead to positive …show more content…
The skills included in the training program were: breath awareness, body scans, guided imagery, journaling, progressive muscle relaxation, positive self-talk, meditation and mindfulness. Results of the study showed statistically significant decrease in avoidance behaviours and hyper vigilance and increase in problem solving and positive reappraisal behaviours (Wilson, 2010). Another study, aimed to find the effectiveness of expressive writing on PTSD in women with a history of childhood sexual abuse. Women were asked to come in for five treatment sessions where they were asked to write their thoughts and feelings on a stressful or traumatic event that they had experienced. Results from the study showed that expressive writing was effective in decreasing the symptoms of PTSD in women with childhood sexual abuse (Meston et. al., 2013). In addition, freestyle journaling and gratitude journaling where individuals write a short list of things for which they are grateful for have also found to be an effective coping strategy (Wilson,