Life entails a wide tapestry of different experiences. Some of those are pleasant, some sad, others challenging. Coping Mechanisms are the ways we respond to difficult experiences. We can think of our coping mechanisms as our emotional and behavioral toolbox. But what happens when our responses to our experiences are not helpful? What do we do if our responses to our problems become the problem? In this article, you will find reflections on the ten most common unhealthy coping mechanisms, including their origins, a few real-life examples, and how we can learn to orient ourselves towards healthier alternatives. Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Resilience Exercises for free. These engaging, science-based exercises will help you effectively deal with difficult circumstances and give you tools to improve the resilience of your clients, students, or employees.