We use maladaptive coping behaviors to soothe ourselves when we feel anxious, sad or stressed. Sometimes, these behaviors only mildly interfere, such as avoiding a specific route to work. But other times, these behaviors can escalate and prevent you from facing difficult situations and dealing with them head-on.
Let’s learn more about maladaptive coping and some behaviors to watch out for. Fortunately, it is possible to replace maladaptive behaviors with healthy behaviors. Therapy is a great tool for this!
What is Maladaptive Coping?
Maladaptive coping happens when you avoid certain situations, events and people to the point where it stunts your growth, damages your development, and fails to meet your psychological needs. These behaviors are unhealthy and unhelpful, and they will have a negative impact on your mental wellbeing.
There are many reasons why people develop maladaptive behaviors. Coping strategies generally develop in childhood, and by adolescence, you should have a healthy handle on solving problems, adjusting expectations and managing stress. While it may not be easy, especially during the teen years, you should still have a healthy foundation in place.
However, people sometimes develop unhealthy coping mechanisms to deal with stressful situations, and they continue into adulthood. Often, these coping strategies arise from disruptions in life, such as poor treatment, overwhelming stress or emotional invalidation. Children placed in these situations are less likely to develop good coping skills.
Examples of Maladaptive Behaviors
While maladaptive behaviors typically evolve from childhood, they can also be the result of life events like loneliness, abuse or trauma. Below are some examples of maladaptive coping.
- Substance use. Using drugs or alcohol to numb your pain is unhealthy. Not only does substance use cause more problems in life, but also it pushes you further away from dealing with your problems.
- Rumination. Rumination involves repetitive thinking or dwelling on negative feelings. By letting these negative thoughts and emotions take precedence, you can develop depression or anxiety.
- Emotional numbing. Emotional numbness is another coping mechanism that people use when dealing with trauma. You’ll notice that your emotional response is lowered or completely missing.
- Intrusive thoughts. Unwelcome thoughts or involuntary ideas can be upsetting and difficult to manage. This coping behavior is most common in people with depression, anxiety or OCD.
- Escape. While it’s okay to take a mental break from time to time, you still have to face your problems. Escaping means you’re changing your behavior to avoid feeling uncomfortable.
- Self-harm and binge eating. These behaviors are not healthy for your mental or physical health. However, you might implement them to deal with difficult feelings and feel a greater sense of control.
- Blaming and self-blaming. You only have control over your actions. By taking the blame, you’re directing emotions like guilt and disgust onto yourself. Plus, you’re giving yourself the illusion that you have control over others, when you don’t.
Do you have unhealthy coping mechanisms that you use to deal with life? If so, it’s time to find a new way. Awakenings Treatment Center can help you develop a healthier attitude toward yourself and your emotions. We can treat mental illness, addiction and eating disorders. Contact us today to start your journey to better health, better wellness and better coping. A new chapter awaits!
