tHE ABC COPING TECHNIQUE
Dear clients,
The term “coping” refers to a person’s ability to manage difficult situations in life. When we say a person is coping, we imply that they maintain a certain level of physical and emotional well-being despite their challenges.
Coping techniques describe certain behaviors that will help to restore a person's overall level of well-being by reducing the impact of the negative event on their body, mind and spirit. One example of this is the "ABC" technique.
What is it?
The ABC technique is a coping skill that aims to distract your mind from the overwhelming situation by focusing on something that is more manageable. This coping skill is ideal for people who are physically unable to step away from the problem.
How does it work?
This technique requires you to recite the ABC backwards. As children, most of us grew up memorizing the ABC through song and some still rely on this method when searching for files that are arranged in alphabetical order.
Reciting the ABC backwards requires conscious thought and your mind cannot process two conscious thoughts simultaneously. In other words, it can either focus on the problem that caused you to feel overwhelmed or it can focus on the "problem" of remembering which letter comes next.
Pro Tip
If you have experience in saying the ABC backwards, you can even try to recite it by skipping every second letter.
Be blessed,
Madeleine