Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Section 12-2 Your Mental Health 305
Coping with Stress
Learning to manage the stress in your life can help you become more
mentally fi t. When physical or emotional problems result from stress, look
at your lifestyle. Ask yourself the following questions:
•
Am I following good health practices? Am I eating regular meals and
getting plenty of physical activity? Do I get an adequate amount of
sleep?
•
Am I realistic about the goals I have set for myself?
Defense Mechanisms
compensation. Using a substitute method to
achieve a desired goal.
Example: This year, you did not make the
basketball team despite much practicing.
Instead, you try out for track and make the cut.
conversion. Transferring an emotion into a
physical symptom or complaint.
Example: You fear you do not know the
material to be covered on the test and
you get a headache.
daydreaming. Accomplishing through the
imagination something you have not
accomplished in reality. Daydreaming can
provide both positive and negative solutions.
When daydreams are used to fi nd creative
solutions to problems, this is positive. When
they are used frequently to escape reality
through fantasy, they are negative.
Positive example: Sue was daydreaming
about having the “latest look” for her party
outfi t. She suddenly thought of how she
could combine some of her old clothes to
get just the look she wanted.
Negative example: Maggie turned down
Sam’s invitation to the school party. Sam
went with another girl and daydreamed he
was with Maggie.
direct attack. Overcoming obstacles or
problems through realistic efforts to fi nd
solutions.
Example: You are overweight because you
eat mostly high-calorie foods. You decide to
replace high-calorie foods with nutritious foods
and eat low-calorie foods between meals.
displacement. Transferring an emotion
connected with one person or thing to
another person or thing.
Example: You get upset with a friend and take
it out on your sister.
giving up. Allowing discouragement to get
you down.
Example: You try to lose weight. After two
weeks, you have not lost an ounce. You just
give up the idea of losing weight and go
back to your old eating habits.
idealization. Placing a value on something or
someone that is beyond its worth.
Example: You lose a favorite piece of jewelry
and lie in bed and cry for two days.
projection. Placing the blame for your failures
on other people or things.
Example: You blame the teacher when you
fail a test because he did not tell you what
would be covered on the test.
rationalization. Explaining your weaknesses
or failures by giving socially acceptable
excuses.
Example: You tell your parents you went to a
movie they had forbidden you to see because
all your friends were going.
regression. Reverting back to a less mature
stage of development.
Example: You get angry with someone and
slam the door as you leave.
12-2
These defense mechanisms
are sometimes used to
hide or counterbalance
feelings or behaviors.