COPING STRATEGIES

By Valerie Maxwell, Ph.D.

Having a hard day? Try one of more of these helpful hints to get through it.

- Count to 10 before acting.
- Walk away - think before acting.
- Hear the word "stop" in your mind.
- Take 10 deep breaths.
- Close your eyes and repeat a calming word, like "relax."
- Think positive. Say to yourself, "things get better when I relax," or "I can handle this calmly."
- Use "thought stoppage." Be aware of negative thoughts and replace them with positive thoughts. Instead of "I'm doomed," try, "It's going to be all right," or, "This too will pass."
- Make a fist, sit on your hand and focus on how your hand feels instead of focusing on the event.
- Push six time times on your body's "relax point." This is the part of your hand between the thumb and index finger.

Dr. Maxwell is the Director of the ADD Center of Manthattan Beach, CA.


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