Posted by Dinah on December 11, 2002, at 17:30:24
In reply to How come coping mechanisms are never healthy?, posted by Eddie Sylvano on December 11, 2002, at 14:51:18
I think coping mechanisms can be healthy, in fact lots of people demonstrate them. They're just not called coping mechanisms because the idea of pathology doesn't enter the picture.
Say two kids are raised in similar parents with abusive parents who belittle them and tell them they'll never amount to anyone. One child grows up to overachieve, becoming a brilliant math scholar. Oh, and he's got a fabulous sense of humor. He's using coping mechanisms. He uses his pain to drive him to accomplishment. He develops humor to deal with difficult situations. But no one calls them coping mechanisms.
The other child grows up to drink too much and repress his emotions. Those they call coping mechanisms. Therapists try to help us replace unhealthy coping mechanisms with healthy ones. In fact, I think the rule is to never deprive a patient of one coping mechanism unless you have another one in place to substitute.
poster:Dinah
thread:33230
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20021206/msgs/33241.html