Some coping strategies are healthy; others are counterproductive. An important step for assembling good tools is identifying the bad ones. Which coping strategies do you use?
When I am anxious, I:
___ try to relax ___ seek advice and assurance from a trusted friend ___ take prescription medication ___ suppress my feelings ___ busy myself with activities unrelated to my problem
(e.g. working in the garden)___ get angry ___ have a smoke ___ pray, meditate, read Scripture ___ try to understand the source of my worry ___ other _________________________
Evaluate your list. Are your coping methods, by and large, good ones? Or does your response to anxiety create even more problems?