Coping Skills Inventory
Each of us experiences life and encounters situations and circumstances in our own way.
Our responses to those are as unique and individual as we are ourselves. Thus, people form different addictions and dyfunctional
behaviour patterns.
Exercise I
Below is a sample “fill in the blank” inventory: each sentence has a goal (what addiction you chose) – a strategy (blank) and a
resulting outcome.
Read each sentence and then insert the word in the blank that you feel fits best.
I - - - - - - for happiness - and became unhappy.
I - - - - - - for joy - and became miserable.
I - - - - - - for sociability - and became argumentative.
I - - - - - - for sophistication - and became obnoxious.
I - - - - - - for friendship - and made enemies.
I - - - - - - for sleep - and awakened without rest.
I - - - - - - to nurture myself - and became bitter and spiteful.
I - - - - - - for strength - and felt weak.
I - - - - - - for love - and destroyed and drove it away.
I - - - - - - medicinally - and acquired health problems.
I - - - - - - for relaxation - and got the shakes.
I - - - - - - for bravery - and became afraid.
I - - - - - - for confidence - and became doubtful.
I - - - - - - to protect my inner self - and became mean and callous.
I - - - - - - for inner peace - and was consumed by fear.
I - - - - - - for freedom - and became a slave.
I - - - - - - to erase my problems - and saw them multiply.
I - - - - - - to numb my pain - and became more tormented.
I - - - - - - to cope with life - and invited emotional & physical death.
I - - - - - - finally, when I did not even want to - and couldn't stop.
The original article used DRANK – which word did you select? The example above illustrates “avoidance/denial” coping.
~Adapted from “ALCOHOLICS' DILEMMA”
In most cases, the reasons we give ourselves, and others, for our actions are actually excuses
and rationalizations; not reasons.
Exercise II
Now, return to the first exercise, and rewrite each sentence. Write the goal, then your strategy to achieve it in the blank, and resulting
outcome.
Exercise III (interactive)
I’d like you to email me your revised results – to use in workshops (of course, they will be anonymous and remain confidential)
Each of us experiences life and encounters situations and circumstances in our own way.
Our responses to those are as unique and individual as we are ourselves. Thus, people form different addictions and dyfunctional
behaviour patterns.
Exercise I
Below is a sample “fill in the blank” inventory: each sentence has a goal (what addiction you chose) – a strategy (blank) and a
resulting outcome.
Read each sentence and then insert the word in the blank that you feel fits best.
I - - - - - - for happiness - and became unhappy.
I - - - - - - for joy - and became miserable.
I - - - - - - for sociability - and became argumentative.
I - - - - - - for sophistication - and became obnoxious.
I - - - - - - for friendship - and made enemies.
I - - - - - - for sleep - and awakened without rest.
I - - - - - - to nurture myself - and became bitter and spiteful.
I - - - - - - for strength - and felt weak.
I - - - - - - for love - and destroyed and drove it away.
I - - - - - - medicinally - and acquired health problems.
I - - - - - - for relaxation - and got the shakes.
I - - - - - - for bravery - and became afraid.
I - - - - - - for confidence - and became doubtful.
I - - - - - - to protect my inner self - and became mean and callous.
I - - - - - - for inner peace - and was consumed by fear.
I - - - - - - for freedom - and became a slave.
I - - - - - - to erase my problems - and saw them multiply.
I - - - - - - to numb my pain - and became more tormented.
I - - - - - - to cope with life - and invited emotional & physical death.
I - - - - - - finally, when I did not even want to - and couldn't stop.
The original article used DRANK – which word did you select? The example above illustrates “avoidance/denial” coping.
~Adapted from “ALCOHOLICS' DILEMMA”
In most cases, the reasons we give ourselves, and others, for our actions are actually excuses
and rationalizations; not reasons.
Exercise II
Now, return to the first exercise, and rewrite each sentence. Write the goal, then your strategy to achieve it in the blank, and resulting
outcome.
Exercise III (interactive)
I’d like you to email me your revised results – to use in workshops (of course, they will be anonymous and remain confidential)
Soundtrack: Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child
A Native American elder once described his own inner
struggles in this manner:
“Inside of me there are two dogs. One of the dogs is
mean and evil. The other dog is good. The mean dog
fights the good dog all the time."
When asked which dog wins, he reflected for a moment
and replied,
“'The one I feed the most."
~George Bernard Shaw
struggles in this manner:
“Inside of me there are two dogs. One of the dogs is
mean and evil. The other dog is good. The mean dog
fights the good dog all the time."
When asked which dog wins, he reflected for a moment
and replied,
“'The one I feed the most."
~George Bernard Shaw
You can run, but you can’t hide from yourself; when the night, or the quiet
moments come, the terrors visit and invade your thoughts and dreams - all the
stuff we tried not to face. ~Sensei Yoda
How’s your avoidance coping working for you? Every considered not running any
more and facing your life?
moments come, the terrors visit and invade your thoughts and dreams - all the
stuff we tried not to face. ~Sensei Yoda
How’s your avoidance coping working for you? Every considered not running any
more and facing your life?
Helping Adult Children make sense
of chaotic lives: healing & recovery
of chaotic lives: healing & recovery
I/We Drank - A Coping Skills Inventory
| Dawn Cove Abbey Empowerment Outreach - New Beginning Online Information Resources, and other supports for Adult Children of Alcoholic/Dysfunctional Families LIFE COUNSELING / COACHING / COUNSELLING and CONSULTING: HEALING YOUR WOUNDED INNER CHILD |
Empowerment: Counselling - Life Coaching,
Seminars, Workshops & Retreats
Seminars, Workshops & Retreats
When life hurts - there is immediate help for long term hope
Only the Wounded Heal; Only the Separated Reconcile
| A MorningStar - Dawn Cove Abbey Inspiration & Healing Page |
MorningStar for people
To submit comments, requests or materials,
contact me at outreach@dawncoveabbey.org
contact me at outreach@dawncoveabbey.org
For empowerment workshops, seminars and lectures, see: http://www.dawncoveabbey.org/healing-circle
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MorningStar Inspiration from Dawn Cove Abbey
Article, haiku, humour and poem contributions are welcomed, and gratefully received
Layout & Design by DawnStar
__________________________________________________
MorningStar Inspiration from Dawn Cove Abbey
Article, haiku, humour and poem contributions are welcomed, and gratefully received
Layout & Design by DawnStar
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