Coping mechanisms, aka survival skills, are the things you do to take your mind off stress and overwhelm. Different types include: Defense (unconscious ways of coping with stress, ie regression), Adaptive (tolerates stress), Avoidant (keeps away from stress, ie denial, dissociation), Attack (diverts attention to others, ie displacement, projection) Behavioural (alters the way you act to minimize stress), Cognitive (alters the way you think to minimize stress, ie compartmentalization), Self Harm (self harming as a response to stress). Positive strategies include meditation, finding humour, spirituality, writing, reading, physical exercise, alone time. Unhealthy strategies including self medicating with drugs and/or alcohol, avoiding the problem, smoking, excessive spending. How do you cope when you feel overwhelmed?