What Coping Teaches Us About Survival

When do our coping behaviors go from necessary survival needs to reliance on avoidant behavior? In this week’s episode, Bridgette and Lindsey dive into how coping mechanisms of any kind can turn into negative feedback loops or quick-relief systems. While coping mechanisms allow us to process trauma over time, understanding the boundaries between healthy versus reliant makes the healing journey an ever-changing process.

Key Takeaways

• Coping is necessary for survival and processing trauma over time, but our behaviors can lead to overreliance on immediate satisfaction.
• Behaviors can include what many people see as “healthy” or “productive”, but could still be a way to avoid processing our emotions.
• Research shows that we seek relief when undergoing stress; this need can lead us to build quick-acting behaviors over sitting with and acknowledging our discomfort.
• Avoidant coping behavior may lead to a disconnect from our bodies, communities, and long-term healing journey.
• Finding professional support to understand the difference between coping and processing trauma provides benefits throughout our lives.

Resources Mentioned

• Gabor Maté’s research on coping skills, trauma, and stress.

Connect and Learn More

☑️ Bridgette Stumpf | LinkedIn

☑️ Lindsey Silverberg | LinkedIn

☑️ Volare | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook

☑️ TraumaTies Website | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube

☑️ Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Brought to you by Volare, TraumaTies: Untangling Societal Harm & Healing After Crime is a podcast that creates space and conversations to dissect the structural and systemic knots that keep us from addressing trauma.

Rooted in a belief that survivors of crime deserve respect for their dignity in the aftermath of victimization, Volare seeks to empower survivors by informing them of all of the options available and working to transform existing response systems to be more inclusive of the diverse needs that survivors often have after crime.

Volare also provides free, holistic, and comprehensive advocacy, therapeutic, and legal services to survivors of all crime types. Visit our website to learn more about how to access our trauma-informed education training and how to partner with us to expand survivor-defined justice.