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STUDY GUIDE

The Coping Closet Chapter 1 Discussion Questions: Stress

1. What stood out to you the most in this chapter and why? 

2. What did you find the most challenging in this chapter and why? 

3. This chapter talks about “eustress”  (good stress) and “distress”  (bad stress), can you recall experiencing one or both of these types of stress?  Share an experience that you’ve had dealing with stress (good or bad).

4. This chapter lists some of the most common stressors.  Think about your life today and your common stressors.  What are your top 5 stressors?  Why are these things a source of stress for you?

5. This chapter discusses the different ways that stress impacts our bodies.  Think about your body and stress. How does your body handle stress?  What happens in your body when you are stressed? 

6. COVID-19 and Stress:  The pandemic has been a source of stress for many of us.   Have you noticed any changes in stress during the pandemic?  Has the pandemic presented you with new stressors? How has the pandemic impacted your stress level?

7. How do you cope with stress? Some of us have healthy coping skills and unhealthy coping skills. What do you to do cope with stress? 

8. The chapter presents coping strategies and tips for stress management. Have you tried any of these strategies? 

9.  What is the relationship between faith and stress?  Does one impact the other?

10. Read Matthew 11:28.  How does this Scripture speak to you regarding stress?

The Coping Closet Chapter 2 Discussion Questions: Anxiety

1. What stood out to you the most in this chapter and why? 

2. What did you find the most challenging in this chapter and why? 

3. Have you had any experiences with anxiety, either personally or witnessed a friend or loved one experience it?

4. Did any of the triggers discussed in this chapter stand out to you?  Have you experienced any of these situations?

5. This chapter discusses spends a little time discussing trauma and personal triggers for anxiety.  One example of this would be surviving a fatal car accident.  For those who experience or witness a trauma like this,  they may experience anxiety in cars, or when going near the site of the car accident.  Are you aware of any past trauma or personal triggers?  If you feel comfortable please share. 

6. This chapter discusses your body and anxiety.  If/when you experience anxiety, where does it show up in your body?

7. COVID-19 and Anxiety:  Have you noticed a change in your anxiety levels since the onset of the pandemic?  How has the pandemic impacted your anxiety?

8. The chapter presents coping strategies and tips for managing anxiety. Have you tried any of these strategies? Please share.

9.  What is the relationship between faith and anxiety?  Does one impact the other?

10. Read Philippians 4:6 - 7.  How does this Scripture speak to you regarding anxiety?

The Coping Closet Chapter 3 Discussion Questions: Depression

1. What stood out to you the most in this chapter and why? 

2. What did you find the most challenging in this chapter and why? 

3. Have you had any experiences with depression, either personally or witnessed a friend or loved one experience it?

4. Did any of the signs and symptoms in this chapter stand out to you?  Have you experienced any of these situations?

5. This chapter makes it clear that there is a difference between being clinically depressed and having a depressed mood or being depressed.  In your own words or giving a personal example, how would you describe the difference between the two?

6. COVID-19 and Depression:  Have you noticed a change in your mood since the onset of the pandemic?  Have you experienced feeling depressed in recent months? How has the pandemic impacted your mood as it relates to depression?

7. The chapter presents coping strategies and tips for managing depression. Have you tried any of these strategies? Please share.

9.  What is the relationship between faith and depression?  Does one impact the other?

10. Read 2 Corinthians 1:3 - 4.  How does this Scripture speak to you regarding depression?

The Coping Closet Chapter 4 Discussion Questions: Trauma

1. What stood out to you the most in this chapter and why? 

2. What did you find the most challenging in this chapter and why? 

3. Have you had any experiences with trauma, either personally or witnessed a friend or loved one experience it?

4. Did any of the common reactions to trauma stand out to you?  Have you experienced any of them?

5. Have you experienced PTSD  or witnessed a friend or loved one struggle with PTSD? Please share.

6. Chapter 2 spent time discussing trauma and personal triggers.  Did this chapter on trauma bring to mind any personal triggers for you?  Please share.

7. COVID-19 and Trauma:  Have you had to deal with any COVID-19 related trauma?  Please share. 

8.  This chapter presents coping strategies and tips for coping with trauma.  Have you tried any of these strategies?  Please share.

9. What is the relationship between faith and trauma? Does one impact the other?

10. Read Psalm 147:3.  How does this Scripture speak to you regarding trauma?

The Coping Closet Chapter 5 Discussion Questions: Grief and Loss

1. What stood out to you the most in this chapter and why? 

2. What did you find the most challenging in this chapter and why? 

3. Have you had any experiences with grief, either personally or witnessed a friend or loved one experience it?  Please share.

4.  This chapter discussed layers of grief and primary and secondary losses.  Have you experienced this type of layered grief?  What is your experience with primary and secondary losses?  Please share.

5. How do you understand the stages of grief?  Can you give an example of each?  Have you experienced going through any or all of these stages in your grief journey?  Please share.  

6. In your experience with grief, do you think you have given yourself permission to grieve all of your losses or have you felt the pressure to pull it together and move on?  Why do you think you respond to grief in this way?

7. COVID-19 and Grief:  Many have lost many things during this pandemic?  Have you experienced any grief and loss during COVID-19?  Please share your losses and how you have been impacted by the loss?

8.  Coping strategies can be healthy or unhealthy.  Can you name one unhealthy way of coping with grief and one healthy way of coping with grief?  How do you cope with grief and loss?

9.  This chapter presents coping strategies and tips for coping with grief and loss.  Have you tried any of these?  What additional strategies can you think of to add to the list?

10.  What's the relationship between faith and grief/loss?  Does one impact the other at all?

11. Read Matthew 5:4 .  How does this Scripture speak to you regarding grief and loss?

The Coping Closet Chapter 6 Discussion Questions: At Risk Populations

1. What stood out to you the most in this chapter and why? 

2. What did you find the most challenging in this chapter and why? 

3. Consider the list of at-risk populations, did any of the category listed surprise you at all?  Are there other demographics that you feel the author missed?  Please share your thoughts. 

4. Do you fit into any of these categories?  How about someone in your social circle?  Please share your thoughts. 

5. If you fall into any of these categories, have you seen others make an effort to reach out to you, check on your or offer support during this season?  Please share.  If no one has reached out, what do you think could have been done to offer support?  What do you wish others would have done for you?

6. If you know others who fall into the at-risk population, have you made an effort to reach out to them, check on them or offer support?  Why or why not?

7. How do you think we can do better with "seeing" each other and intentionally checking on and offering support to one another?

8.  Coping strategies can be healthy or unhealthy.  Can you name one unhealthy way of coping with grief and one healthy way of coping with grief?  How do you cope with grief and loss?

9.  This chapter presents coping strategies and tips for coping with grief and loss.  Have you tried any of these?  What additional strategies can you think of to add to the list?

10. Read Luke 12: 6-7.  How does this Scripture speak to you regarding at risk populations?

The Coping Closet Chapter 7 Discussion Questions: My Coping Closet

1. What stood out to you the most in this chapter and why? 

2. What did you find the most challenging in this chapter and why? 

3. The author shared items from her "Coping Closet", do any of these items stand out to you? If so, which ones and why?

4. What items do you already have in your "Coping Closet"?

5. After reading through this book, are there new items that you are inspired to add to your "Copiong Closet"?  Please share.

6.  What does "Self-Care" mean to you and what role does it play in understanding and prioritizing your mental health?

7. On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate your overall self-care?

8. What Scriptures come to mind when you think about the concept and practice of self-care?

9. Do you have a self-care plan?

The Coping Closet Traffic Light Action Plan

Reading and engaging material is a positive step in one's overall growth and development, however, without an action plan in place- the information can lie dormant and useless in your life.  In order to maximize the potential of every class, workshop, book you read, presentation you watch etc., you need to have and execute a plan of action.  This exercise will help you to do JUST THAT!  In light of the book and engaging the discussion questions answer the following questions:

RED LIGHT:  What are 3 things that you will completely stop doing altogether?

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YELLOW LIGHT:  What are 3 things that you will do less often?

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GREEN LIGHT:  What are 3 things that you will either start doing or that you will do more often?

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