Coping Mechanisms: the good, the bad and the downright ugly.

All coping mechanisms are not created equal, and some are doing you far more harm than good. Here’s my personal story and my professional advice.

We’ve named our self-soothing habits coping mechanisms because they’re intended to help us cope with life. We’re all under stress in some way, even when its good stress. And stress creates a tension in our bodies and minds that leads us, either consciously or unconsciously, to do something to tamp down that feeling. But just because these behaviors are done with a certain intent doesn’t mean they’re actually accomplishing that goal. Often, our coping mechanisms do far more harm than good.

This was our first weekend with our potential foster daughter. She has been