Adaptive Coping Mechanisms:

Adaptive coping mechanisms, also called healthy coping strategies: Adaptive coping are protective mechanisms that can decrease the adverse effects of stressors as they occur and reduce them from occurring in the first place—to have positive health by building emotional resiliency. People who rely on problem-solving and information-seeking strategies adapt better to stressors—when coping efforts match the problem. Adaptive coping mechanisms—like exercise, meditation, venting, seeking help, and getting quality sleep—show better outcomes than those with more restricted or rigid ways to cope. Avoidance of painful emotions is often the motivating force in taking maladaptive approaches (substance abuse, binge eating, suicide). Two main coping types:

• Problem-based coping modifies the source of the stress, perhaps by removing the stressor—like relieving anxiety/sadness by ending an unhealthy relationship.
• Emotion-based coping regulates distress caused by a stressor, especially when we don’t want to or literally can’t change the situation—someone’s death is beyond anyone’s control, but coping with grief in a healthy way is still important.