Coping strategies, or simply coping, are actions that we use to reduce stress. Unlike defense mechanisms, coping is used consciously. By mindfulness I mean a person's ability to choose their behavior in a stressful situation, as opposed to reactions caused by defense mechanisms. Each person has his own set of coping mechanisms, which he uses with varying degrees of success - sometimes they work well, sometimes not so much, and sometimes they may even be dangerous. Let's look at an example of the coping strategy "planning to solve a problem." This coping works well when we have enough information and resources to solve the problem or when we can get them from another person with whom we can ask for help .However, it is useless if the stressful situation cannot be solved or has already passed, for example, if we got sick before a party we wanted to go to. During psychotherapy, copings are formed through behavioral experiments. In everyday life, copings are formed on the basis of our personal experience of coping with various situations. We can also learn new coping strategies by observing other people, and often we are surprised, saying, “Was that possible?” It is important to note the harm of advice. Advice is a coping strategy that worked for a specific person in a specific situation. However, it may not work for another person in a similar situation. Before moving on to a description of coping strategies, I will give a metaphorical example. A set of coping strategies can be thought of as a set of tools that we always carry with us. The more tools we have, the better prepared we are to deal with challenges. However, it is important to know how to use each tool in a specific situation, otherwise we may be trying to hammer a nail with a screwdriver. This may be possible, but not practical. There are three groups of coping strategies: cognitive, emotional and behavioral. The first group includes cognitive coping: Distracting or changing thoughts on other topics: Alice, feeling stressed after a busy day at work, decides to distract herself by reading a fascinating book or watching your favorite movie. This helps her switch to something pleasant and reduce her stress level. Philosophical stoicism, that is, accepting the situation as inevitable: Vladimir encountered an unexpected problem at work. Instead of panicking and despairing, he adopts a strategy of stoicism and accepts the situation as something beyond his control. He focuses on what he can control and looks for ways to solve the problem without losing his calm. Devaluation or reduction of the significance of the situation: Natalya faced criticism of her work from her boss. Instead of accepting this as a personal failure, she uses a strategy of devaluation and reduces the importance of the criticism, considering the critic to be incompetent. Analysis and Planning: Dmitry is facing financial difficulties. He uses analysis and planning strategies to understand his financial situation and develop an action plan to improve his financial stability. Relative Evaluation and Comparison with Others: Maria experiences disappointment after failing to achieve her goal. She uses a relative evaluation strategy, comparing her achievements with the achievements of other people. This helps her realize that everyone has their own path and that her failure is not final. Rationalization or search for explanations of reasons: Alexey was not chosen for the position he expected. Instead of wallowing in self-deprecation, he applies a strategy of rationalization and seeks explanations for the reasons for this decision. He understands that there can be many factors influencing a decision, and this helps him remain optimistic and look for new opportunities. Finding and giving meaning to the situation: Elena faced a personal tragedy after losing a loved one. She applies strategysearching for and giving meaning to a situation, looking for lessons and significance in this experience. This helps her find strength and cope with grief, as well as use this experience for personal development. Fantasizing or imagining unrealistic outcomes: Andrey experiences anxiety before an important presentation. He uses a fantasy strategy and imagines an ideal and successful outcome of this situation. This helps him strengthen his self-confidence and cope with pre-presentation anxiety. There are other cognitive coping... The second group includes emotional coping: Protest or indignation: Alexander learned about an unfair decision made in relation to him. He uses a protest strategy, expressing his indignation and dissatisfaction with this decision. Emotional release: Marina feels angry and irritated after a difficult day at work. She uses an emotional release strategy that results in hitting a pillow or crying. Suppression and control of emotions: Ivan faces anxiety and fear before an important presentation. He uses a strategy of suppression and control of emotions in order to remain calm and professional during the speech. Self-blame: Catherine made a mistake that led to negative consequences. She uses a self-blame strategy, blaming herself for what happened and feeling guilty. Emotional Expression: Anton feels sadness and sadness after the breakup. He uses a strategy of emotional expression, does not restrain his emotions, but screams, actively gesticulates, cries... Interpretation and rethinking of emotions: Olga is afraid of a job interview. She uses a strategy of interpreting and reframing emotions, viewing her anxiety as a sign that she cares about her future and strives to fulfill her goals. And others: Coping strategies can be varied and individual. Some other examples include using meditation to calm the mind, writing out emotions in a journal, using deep breathing techniques to relieve stress, etc. The third group includes behavioral coping: Seeking social support: Maria is having difficulties at work and feels a lot of stress. She turns to a trusted colleague for advice and support. Seeking Emotional Support: Alexandra is experiencing a breakup with her partner and feels deep sadness. She turns to a friend or loved one to listen to her, share her emotions and receive support. - engaging in other activities to distract from stress (cleaning, traveling, helping others) Engaging in other activities to distract from stress: Olga feels very stressed after a busy day at work. She decides to start cleaning her apartment to take her mind off her problems and relieve stress. Workaholism: Ivan faces personal problems and stress. He decides to go into work and delve into his projects in order to forget about problems and focus on his responsibilities. Addiction to food: Natalia experiences emotional stress and anxiety. She finds solace in food and begins to snack to relieve stress and gain pleasure. Dream: Maxim feels tired and overworked. He decides to sleep extra hours to regain his strength and relieve physical and emotional fatigue. Substance use (alcohol): Elena experiences stress and anxiety. She decides to drink alcohol to relax and relieve emotional stress. Wish fulfillment (shopping): Andrey feels depressed and unhappy. He decides to fulfill his desire and makes purchases to get instant gratification and lift his spirits. Isolation or solitude: Nikolai experiences stress and emotional exhaustion. He decides to step away from people and spend time alone to rest and regain his strength. Helplessness: Lyudmila faces difficulties and does not know how to cope with them. She decides to passively accept the situation and not!