March 10, 2008
Coping Strategies: at work or at home IX
Another coping strategy is REGRESSION. Regression is reverting to immature behavior to express emotions. You often hear about regression when talking about a toddler going back to more infantile behaviors when a new baby enters his/her environment. However, regression can be seen in other environments and with older participants.
For example, a colleague is upset about their low sales and more upset about the success of their counterparts sales. Instead of being encouraged by their colleague to obtain more sales, they pout, throw things in the office, or even start rumors about their counterpart. This behavior is deemed rather juvenile, but I’m sure that you’ve seen such behaviors or heard of such actions by adults.
This strategy holds very very temporary relief of negative feelings. Soon after the realization of their actions, their negative feelings are followed by even more negative feelings. Thus one begins a downward spiral of negative feelings.
To counter this strategy it’s like with most strategies: accept reality. Take reality by the horns and challenge yourself to overcome whatever negative feelings you’re experiencing. If that means to step things up in the workplace – do so. If it means accepting that you cannot purchase a car that you want at this time – make a plan to save and set a date for when you can purchase that car. Reality is truly in your hands, you can regress or you can accept.
… last coping skill coming – it’s the best one.
