Emotional coping strategies

Emotion-focused methods include the following:

releasing pent-up emotions diverting one’s attention controlling angry feelings

mindfulness meditation methods employing methodical relaxation procedures

“Emotion-focused coping” revolves around managing the emotions that accompany the experience of stress. Folkman and Lazarus stated the following emotion-focused coping strategies:

1.Disclaiming

2. Escape

3. Avoidance

4. Accepting responsibility or guilt, exerting self-control, and reappraising oneself positively

Emotion-focused coping is a distress-relieving method that involves limiting, diminishing, or preventing the emotional components of a stressor. This mechanism can be used in a variety of ways, including:

          1. Requesting social assistance

          2. Accepting responsibility, using avoidance, practising self-control, and separating from the stressor

This coping mechanism’s primary goal is to shift the meaning of the stressor event divert attention away from it.

Reappraising, for example, attempts to discover a more positive meaning of the source of the stress in order to minimise the emotional component of the stressor. Avoiding emotional distress will divert attention away from the negative feelings linked with the stressor. Emotion-focused coping is ideal for stressors that appear uncontrollable (ex. a terminal illness diagnosis, or the loss of a loved one). Some emotion-focused coping methods, such as distancing or avoidance, can be beneficial for a short length of time, but they can be harmful when utilised for an extended period of time. Positive emotion-focused processes, such as seeking social support and favourable re-appraisal, have been linked to positive outcomes.

Emotional approach coping is a type of emotion-focused coping in which emotional expression and processing are employed to adapt to a stressor. Other techniques include deep breathing, meditation, yoga, music and art therapy, aromatherapy, and grounding, which employs physical sensations or mental diversions to refocus from the stressor to the present.