Coping skills are strategies used to manage stress and reduce unpleasant emotions. They can be cognitive or behavioral, individual or social, and can be adaptive or maladaptive. Adaptive coping strategies are those that reduce stress, while maladaptive coping strategies increase stress. Coping skills can be categorized into four major categories: problem-focused coping, emotion-focused coping, meaning-focused coping, and biological coping. Problem-focused coping is aimed at changing or eliminating the source of the stress, while emotion-focused coping is aimed at reducing the emotional impact of the stressor. Meaning-focused coping involves finding meaning in the stressful situation, while biological coping involves using physical methods to reduce stress, such as exercise or relaxation techniques. Coping skills can be simple tactics used in the moment to get control over emotions, such as deep breathing, mindfulness exercises, or grounding techniques. Coping skills can be adaptive, meaning they are healthy and helpful, or maladaptive, meaning they might help someone momentarily feel better, but they’ll do more harm than good in the long run. Some examples of maladaptive coping skills include procrastination, numbing or ignoring feelings, tantrums or meltdowns, yelling, swearing, or name-calling. It is important to note that coping skills are not a one-size-fits-all solution, and the effectiveness of the coping effort depends on the type of stress, the individual, and the circumstances.