As your emotions go up, your ability to think clearly goes down. That’s why you might say or do things you later regret when you feel angry. And it’s also why you might reach for an unhealthy coping skill to get immediate relief when your anxiety skyrockets.

Uncomfortable emotions like anxiety, embarrassment, sadness, and anger can be tough to tolerate. And if we’re not careful, these emotions can lead to poor decisions if we don’t manage them well.

From drawing to running, there are many healthy ways you can manage your emotions. The goal isn’t to make uncomfortable emotions go away altogether though. The goal is to reduce them enough that you can think clearly. Then, you can make healthier decisions for yourself.

On today’s Friday Fix, I explain how to identify your current coping skills, and I outline healthy coping strategies you can start experimenting with.

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