Create Your Personal Coping Card!
We are all important and we all have a voice. When we use our voice to talk about ourselves or what we need, it can feel strange. When we know ourselves and what we need, we can find and ask for help more easily. Having peers to talk to is great, but it is important to have someone older and wiser to connect with during difficult times. Sometimes this is a parent, a pastor/priest/elder, a therapist or mentor.
In today’s Wellness Wednesday post, you will spend some time thinking through ways to calm, cope and reach out for support when the storms of life come. This process will allow you to be ready to ask for what you need from the people who are most helpful when you need it. You don’t need to wait for a magic wand, you can plan and use your voice to talk about who you are and what you need.
Try this:
Use a piece of paper and a writing utensil;
- On one side of the paper write down something you can do to calm yourself when you are feeling upset:
- Something active
- Something quiet
- Something that works for me at home
- Something that works for me at school/work
- On the other side of the paper write down who your trusted adults are:
- One adult at school/work
- One adult family member
- One adult in the community (coach, friend’s parent, faith leader, boss, mentor, therapist)
KEEP THIS PAPER! Feel free to transfer this information onto a cue card or something more convenient to carry but do keep it handy.
Ask yourself, there is no wrong answer:
Since completing the activity and now knowing that you have these strategies, how differently do you feel about coping with difficult times?
Think about a time when you wish you had this information/card handy to help you.
Connecting to Our Faith
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid - John 14:27
Further Learning
All ages:
LDCSB Cognitive Coping Cards - Instructions on making your own Coping Cards
Children’s Books:
Giraffe Asks for Help by Nyasha Chikowore
Employees of LDCSB checkout WorkLifeHealth from EAP Provider Morneau Sheppell
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