Healthy vs Unhealthy Coping Skills for Greeley Seniors
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Have you ever heard the saying, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks?"
A study from the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine suggests the exact opposite. Seniors may be better at developing new habits due to their strong self-regulation and ability to delay gratification.
It can also work against them, however. Seniors can easily develop unhealthy habits, especially in stressful situations. Seniors often face overwhelming challenges, such as the loss of mental or physical abilities or the loss of loved ones.
They may not even be able to distinguish the healthy vs unhealthy coping skills in their life. They may not even realize it's a coping skill until it's too late, and it becomes an ingrained habit.
Finding a home can be a significant source of stress. The vibrant city of Greeley, CO, offers the perfect blend of suburban tranquility and urban liveliness. What about the moments when basic needs are met but life still feels too overwhelming?
Read our guide to see how you can break out of the unhealthy habits holding you back today.
The Differences Between Healthy vs Unhealthy Coping Skills
Labeling healthy vs unhealthy coping skills may feel subjective. If you haven't experienced negative effects from a behavior yet, you may not think it's doing any harm.
What makes a coping skill healthy or unhealthy goes beyond the immediate impact. It's about how the behavior affects you over time.
While unhealthily coping skills may provide temporary relief, they often lead to long-term problems without addressing the core issues.
Healthy coping skills provide long-term relief. They help address the underlying issue and improve your mood and overall health.
Healthy coping skills require more effort but pay off more in the long run.
Examples of Healthy and Unhealthy Coping Skills
Healthy coping skills are essential for physical and emotional wellness. They deal with stress management instead of stress avoidance.
Examples of healthy coping skills include:
- Social connection
- Physical activity
- Relaxation techniques
- Seeking professional support
- Positive self-talk
- Journaling
- Building routines
- Setting achievable goals
- Participating in educational workshops
At the same time, everyone has a few less healthy coping tools. They are often relied upon for immediate relief during stress or strong emotions.
Examples of unhealthy coping skills include:
- Social withdrawal
- Substance misuse
- Avoidance or denial
- Excessive worrying
- Negative self-talk
- Neglecting self-care
- Impulsive spending
- Over or undereating
- Over or undersleeping
Consequences of Unhealthy Coping Skills
There can be serious long-term consequences to getting into a regular routine of unhealthy coping skills. They can cause physical health problems.
Your organs will feel the effects of substance abuse. Getting too much or too little to eat can result in issues such as malnutrition or digestive upset. Not getting the right amount of sleep can cause fatigue.
Unhealthy coping skills also damage mental health, especially in the aging mind. Even if you develop them as a way to get away from stress and anxiety, they can end up increasing it over time.
They can even worsen cognitive decline. Memory care in Greeley, CO, is a necessary option as it caters to those experiencing memory decline.
Unhealthy coping mechanisms can also put a strain on your wallet. This isn't only true of overspending or gambling. You can also have increased healthcare costs from physical health problems. Only healthy habits are worth your hard-earned money.
The cost isn't only personal. They also affect how you interact with others.
Unhealthy coping skills damage your relationships. Withdrawing from others to avoid social stressors leaves you isolated. When you do go out, spending so long alone can make you irritable and moody, straining your relationships.
The most significant consequence is that the longer you engage in an unhealthy coping mechanism, the more difficult it will be for you to find better ways to deal with future stressors.
How to Replace Unhealthy Skills
Recognize your unhealthy coping skills and name them. You can't work on solving the problem until you know what it is.
Instead of avoiding it, try to look for the source of your problem. Is it with your family, at work, or in a relationship? What can you do to get to the root of the issue?
Identify if you have any triggers that make you want to engage in unhealthy coping skills. What situations cause you to seek them out, and how do you behave?
Find the best healthy alternative for you. Start knitting or painting to keep your hands busy instead of smoking. Engage in the regular activities and events at a senior living community.
Seek out support from a trusted family member or friend; they can validate your feelings and keep you accountable.
Fellow members of your senior living community can also help. Remember that being part of independent living in Greely, CO, doesn't mean being alone. You always have other residents to talk to.
Don't be afraid to reach out to a professional for more support. Approximately 19% of Americans experience mental illness, with only a fraction receiving adequate mental health care.
A therapist can offer valuable insights that family and friends may not be able to provide. They can give tailored senior support to help you develop healthier coping mechanisms.
Be patient with yourself. Learning is a long and gradual process, but so is unlearning.
Don't try to tackle all of your unhealthy coping skills at once, either. Set realistic goals and try to improve one at a time. Work until your healthier coping strategies start to feel natural.
Find a Senior Living Community to Foster Healthy Coping Skills
Comparing healthy vs unhealthy coping skills can help you identify them in your life. Switching out a habit is a long process, but it can improve your life and save you from physical, financial, and mental woes.
The Lodge at Greeley is a welcoming senior living community. We offer independent living, assisted living, memory care, and more.
Our award-winning VibrantLife© program allows residents to set their own schedule. We use it to help them flourish in mind, body, and spirit.
We'd love to see you here. Learn more about our community at The Lodge at Greeley, CO, and schedule a tour.