Healthy Coping Starts Here: Help Moving Beyond Numbing & Avoidance With a Licensed Therapist
When life feels overwhelming, it’s natural to seek relief—something to take the edge off, to quiet the stress, to make things feel just a little more manageable. But not all coping mechanisms actually help you heal.
We often turn to quick fixes:
Mindlessly doom scrolling to distract ourselves.
Overworking to avoid our emotions.
Numbing with food, alcohol, or other habits to escape the discomfort.
While these may bring temporary relief, they don’t address the underlying stress or emotions. Instead, they keep us stuck in a cycle where the pain gets pushed down—only to resurface later. Avoiding isn’t peace. Numbing isn’t healing. Overworking isn’t worth it.
So, What Does Healthy Coping Look Like?
True healing starts with awareness, self-compassion, and small daily choices that allow you to process and regulate emotions, rather than escape them. Here’s how you can begin:
1️⃣ Pause & Identify What You’re Feeling
Before reaching for your usual distraction, take a moment to ask yourself:
💭 What am I actually feeling right now?
💭 Where do I feel this in my body?
💭 What do I really need in this moment?
As researcher and author, Brené Brown says, “Name it to tame it!” Simply naming your emotions can create space between the feeling and the reaction, giving you a sense of control over how you respond. When you acknowledge what you're feeling—whether it's stress, frustration, or sadness—you begin to lessen its intensity and allow yourself to process it in a healthier way.
2️⃣ Choose a Coping Tool That Serves You
Instead of avoiding discomfort, try leaning into healthy coping strategies like:
🌿 Going for a walk to clear your mind.
📖 Journaling to process your emotions.
🧘♀️ Practicing mindfulness or deep breathing to ground yourself.
📞 Talking to a trusted friend or therapist for support.
These actions may not provide instant relief like numbing does, but they offer something deeper—healing, clarity, and resilience. Unlike avoidance, which only temporarily suppresses discomfort, healthy coping strategies help you process emotions in a way that fosters long-term well-being. While numbing offers a quick escape, true coping creates lasting change—helping you move through life’s challenges in a way that fosters growth, rather than keeping you stuck in cycles of stress and avoidance.
3️⃣ Practice Self-Compassion
Many of us are quick to judge ourselves for struggling: Why can’t I just handle this better? But self-compassion reminds us that we’re human. Instead of criticizing yourself, try speaking to yourself the way you would a close friend:
💙 “It’s okay to feel this way.”
💙 “I’m doing my best, and that’s enough.”
💙 “I deserve kindness, even from myself.”
Practicing self-compassion doesn’t mean ignoring mistakes or avoiding growth—it means treating yourself with the same care and understanding you would offer a loved one. Over time, self-compassion becomes a powerful coping tool that allows you to face challenges with resilience, rather than self-criticism.
4️⃣ Build Small, Sustainable Habits
Healing doesn’t happen overnight. It happens in small, intentional choices—choosing to pause instead of reacting, to face emotions instead of avoiding them, to prioritize your well-being instead of pushing through exhaustion. Over time, these small choices create lasting change.
You Deserve More Than Just Coping—You Deserve to Heal
If you’ve been relying on numbing, avoidance, or overworking to get through the day, you’re not alone. But true relief comes from processing your emotions, not escaping them.
So next time stress hits, try this: Pause. Name what you’re feeling. Ask yourself what you really need. Healing starts with these small moments of awareness and self-compassion.
If you're ready to develop healthier coping strategies and create lasting change, I’m here to help. As a licensed therapist, I support clients in managing stress, breaking free from perfectionism, and cultivating balance.
📍 Learn more about how we can work together here.
