The Ogburn Online High School Life Management Lesson 4

1. The Coping
Brain
By: Ashlesh Sharma, Sophomore

2. 3 Parts OfThe Coping Brain
1. Thinking: Learning and storing memories. Our ability to
reason, choose, imagine comes from this element. It
also coordinates all coping brain responses during a
stressful situation.
2. Reptilian: Developing ideas to be safe and avoid
danger. For this element, survival is considered the
number one priority. Some of the characteristics are:
Anger, fear, aggression, and territorial behavior.
1. Emotional: This is also considered as the “Mammalian
Brain.” It may seem similar to the reptilian element, but
this function does much more than just keeping us alive.
It builds social connection, trust, empathy with others,
and expresses feelings of joy or stress.

3. Coping Challenges
Loss: A loss of a loved one can mentally hurt our brain. Whether it is losing a friend over
an argument, or losing a family member permanently, it can cause an intense feeling of
grief within ourselves. A solution would be to accept the loss, and pushing yourself to
move on.
Rejection: It is essential for us to feel acknowledged/wanted by others. Rejection has a
massive power over us. It can cause self-doubt, build up insecurity, and decrease self-
esteem. A good way to cope rejection is to stop and ask yourself. Will this affect me 5
years from now?
Betrayal: Betrayal can cause friendship, marriage, and other types of relationships to
weaken. Sometimes the people we depend on the most can deceive us. Betrayal can
destroy trust, but it also educated us about the people we socialize with. A way to cope
with betrayal is to surround yourself with the ones that you feel safe around.
Humiliation: Humiliation leads us to question our self-respect. It brings worst case
scenarios into our minds. Every individual has gone through some sort of bullying at one
point. Being laughed at, ridiculed, and embarrassed is not something we can control at
times. However, it is important to remind yourself of who you were before the
humiliation occurred. Do not let the bully have the feeling of satisfaction.

4. Coping Misconceptions
“I don’t care” method: Shutting off the emotional
element of our brains can us cause harm in the future.
Not caring about our own feelings may lead to not
caring about others’ feelings.
Unaware of the reptilian brain taking over: When we do
not use our thinking brain to deal with stress or anger, the
reptilian element can take over. Use the neocortex!
Automatic Instinctive brain coping:The “easy” coping road can
seem like the right solution out of habit. The instinctive coping
brain (reptilian and emotional) should not always be used. Learn
to turn on your thinking brain at stressful situations.

5. Coping strategies to manage anger
• Neocortex -We need to learn how to make the most use of our thinking brain.
During a feeling of extreme anger, the emotional or reptilian elements should be
avoided. Instead, stop and think.
• Self-Management –Take care of yourself.Anger can make ideas such as self-
harm, violence, bullying seem like a good idea. Nobody is responsible for negative
behavior caused by anger, other than yourself.
• Develop healthy and effective coping skills. Plan a routine for situations involving
anger that helps you relax.
• Cool-off ! Stay away from what makes you angry until you are ready to deal with
it. Do not address the anger in a harsh mood.
• Control the anger. Do not let the anger control you.
• Breathe.

6. Coping Skills
Take Responsibility for your feelings:Although we cannot control what others
do or say to us, we have to deal with the feelings ourselves.
Observe others: Recognize how parents, teachers, peers, and siblings
use coping skills. Learn from them!
Education! Be well educated.Take advantage of school, and learn new
coping skills on your own.
Be Social: Know that you are not alone.There are people that can relate
to your stress, anger, devastation, etc. Communicate with them about it.
Ask for help! Do not feel afraid or ashamed to ask someone for help.Whether
you are getting bullied, or just need some advice, talk to someone you trust.

7. My Coping Skills..
Exercise
Listen to music
Dance around!
Call a friend
Family movie night!
Eat pizza
Plant gardens
Play with a dog
Go hiking
Do cartwheels
Give yourself
a high-five!
Breathe
Try new things

8. Did you know that the Brain…
 Contains 400 miles of blood vessels
 Originates human feelings inside
 Weighs 3 pounds!
 Makes up to 10 trillion neuron connections possible
 Generates enough watt of power to illuminate a light bulb!

9. Resources
http://www.copingskills4kids.net/The_Coping_Brain.html