Coping Strategies
Part 12 - Close-up on 7 ways of coping

It’s all very well focusing on our thoughts, feelings and actions for certain aspects of our lives, but if we have some form of trauma or emotional blockage or a general ailment within our physical body, we would likely need a new approach. This is where bodywork comes in. Not only can it help to release stresses and distresses, it can also improve posture and energy levels as well as bringing the mind and the body closer together.

Below is an incomplete list of bodywork practices for you to investigate further if you so wish. Some of these interventions involve touch, while others do not.

Alexander technique	Visceral manipulation	Feldenkrais method	Hydrotherapy
Ortho-Bionomy	Polarity therapy	Deep tissue massage	Pranic healing
Craniosacral therapy	Bowen therapy	Rosen method	Aston-Patterning
Breema	Biofeedback	Trager work	Gua sha
One Light Healing Touch	NeuroMuscular Reprogramming	Connective tissue massage	Flotation repatterning
Lymphatic massage	Marma therapy	Myofascial release	Jin Shin Jyutsu
Qigong	Lomi work	Rolfing	Reiki
Reflexology	Amanae	Watsu	Hellerwork
Breath perception	Trigger Point therapy	Soft tissue release	Swedish massage
Bioenergy	Aromatherapy	Hypnotherapy	Iridology
Thai massage	Acupressure	Hot stone massage	Oncology massage

If you wish to take a break from the endless thought-traffic generated by a noisy brain, having your own mantra may be a useful tool for you.

A mantra, for SD purposes, is a nonsensical word or series of words that form a phrase that can either be spoken aloud or inside the head, over and over again, in order to bring about peace and tranquillity.

A suggestion to begin with is to practise this for 5 minutes in the morning and 5 minutes at night, as well as to use it on an as-and-when basis.

If you are stuck for a mantra, you would be welcome to pick one of these (providing the words/phrases don’t have any meaning for you that will distract you in any way):

Chu Ku Ley Mar	Jem Nay Seer Fah
Sumja Bey Um	Lum Suu Kin Boo
Pel Naa Seylah	Sil Hah Joa Vey
Bu Ray Zim Tah	Chay Woo Baydah

Otherwise, you could always ask someone to come up with a mantra for you, or you could create your own one. Alternatively, you could look into the mantras from yoga, Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism, starting with the sacred sound of Om.

An affirmation is a word, phrase or quote that, if remembered, can be brought into focus at any moment in time to help you come through a difficult situation or to give you a boost of self-belief. There is also a notion that if you say an affirmation for long enough, you will be able to assimilate its meaning into your own being.

For an affirmation to work it needs to be meaningful to the person saying it. For example:

This affirmation could be effective if you would benefit from a good dose of conviction in order to keep on keeping on. However, if your hopelessness is stronger than your hope, the affirmation is likely to be counter-productive.

The following affirmations are matched to a theme. If you like any of them, take them and repeat them over and over until they are well and truly inside your head. If you can make up your own affirmations, all the better.

Self-determination

“I always do the best for myself, no matter what.”

When you are lacking motivation for the day ahead

“I will walk into the day and I will find something worthwhile within it.”

When you are fearful of what might happen

“I trust myself and my abilities.”

Facing a problem

“I can get through this. This is not the end of the world.”

Difficulty sleeping

“I give myself permission to end my thoughts for the day and seek peace in sleep.”

When you are angry

“I take full responsibility for myself and my actions.”

When your self-esteem has been knocked by someone else

“I believe in myself. I know how amazing I am.”

When you are sad and alone

“I know this is a temporary state. I know there are people out there who care for me.”