what “feeling better” can look like after using a coping technique:
- beng able to get up and walk around safely
- thinking/talking more clearly and lessening of brain fog
- a willingness to re-engage with a situation/emotion (even with some reluctance)
- ability to do a task you did not want to/could not do before
- being able to plan and problem solve (even if you still don’t know what to do)
- improved concentration/focus
- more understanding of a situation
- calmer and slower thoughts (rather than scattered thoughts/rumination)
- slower heartbeat and breathing
- faster heartbeat, if doing exercise, and momentum that gives you a chance to do a task before you sit down again
- being able to sleep easier
- an ability to look at the big picture and not get lost in the details
- feeling that you can “manage”
- ability to control outbursts/destructive behaviour or pause before acting
- managing to stop crying
I think people tend to assume their mood is what will improve after trying coping techniques, however, your mood is not the full extent of your mental health, and it doesn’t totally define whether or not a technique has helped you. When disorders cause symptoms like chronic emptiness and low mood, it’s worthwhile to pay attention to your body and your abilities to look for signs of improvement, which can then have an affect on your mood in the long term.
