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Every Friday on The Verywell Mind Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Amy Morin, LCSW, shares the “Friday Fix”—a short episode featuring a quick, actionable tip or exercise to help you manage a specific mental health issue or concern.

Friday Fix: Episode 123

As your emotions go up, your ability to think clearly goes down. That’s why you might say or do things you later regret when you feel angry. And it’s also why you might reach for an unhealthy coping skill to get immediate relief when your anxiety skyrockets.

We all have certain things we do to cope with uncomfortable emotions. You might pick up your phone to ward off boredom. Or you might eat when you feel lonely.

Uncomfortable emotions, like anxiety, embarrassment, sadness, and anger, can be tough to tolerate. And if we’re not careful, those emotions can lead to poor decisions if we don’t manage them well.

Sometimes, the coping skills we use work well in the moment; they reduce the intensity of our feelings. But, those same coping skills can easily introduce bigger problems into our lives.

It’s important to evaluate your coping skills every once in a while and make sure you’re using healthy strategies to deal with uncomfortable emotions.

On today’s Friday Fix, I explain how to identify your current coping skills and I outline healthy coping strategies you can start experimenting with.

From drawing to running, there are many healthy ways you can manage your emotions. The goal isn’t to make uncomfortable emotions go away altogether though. The goal is to reduce them enough that you can think clearly. Then, you can make healthier decisions for yourself.

More About the Podcast

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Reviews and ratings are a great way to encourage other people to listen and help them prioritize their mental health too.

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Links and Resources

  • Follow Amy Morin on Instagram.

  • Check out Amy’s books on mental strength.

  • Watch Amy’s TEDx Talk The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong

  • What Is Emotional Wellness?

  • What Is Anger Management Therapy?

  • How to Detox Your Thoughts With Psychologist Andrea Bonior

  • Friday Fix: The First Step to Taming Your Anxiety

  • Friday Fix: How to Stop Sabotaging Yourself