Coping with turbulent times: A survival kit for the individual

Abstract

Coping is the process by which we deal with emotional and practical problems, and it demands of us a range of skills and no little degree of flexibility. If psychological strain is someone’s personal experience of these turbulent times and the individual’s resources to deal with it are limited, how well is that person coping? Actually, this can be a pretty difficult question to answer, as there are few universal rules when it comes to coping! Perhaps it is hard to evaluate our ability to cope, as we may not have been in this situation before, or we may not know of anybody with whom to compare our situation. Whether or not this is the case, every circumstance (and individual) is different. Perhaps it is good enough if we can say to ourselves, ‘I’m doing ok’ or, if we are not, to recognize that ‘Things aren’t going well, and this is why’.