| Types of coping strategies | Descriptions of coping strategies | Examples of coping strategies |
| Cognitive | ||
| Self-distraction | Direct attention to activities that help shift one's mind away from worries | Engage in hobbies, reading, puzzles, games, or work |
| Cognitive restructuring | Identify and dispute irrational or maladaptive thoughts | Refute the fear that only full-dose chemotherapy is needed for cancer control |
| Mindfulness | Bring one's attention to experiences in the present moment | Practice meditation, yoga |
| Behavioral | ||
| Problem-solving | Identify problems, generate solutions, and create an action plan | Research clinical trial options |
| Discuss and document advance care plans; estate plans | ||
| Soliciting social support | Identify informational, emotional, and practical needs | Develop strategies for obtaining needed support from care team, family, and friends |
| Behavioral activation | Identify values and align behaviors | Remain engaged with important activities as much as possible, even with the disease |
| Emotional/physiologic | ||
| Physiologic interventions | Optimize physiologic state | Practice relaxation strategies |
| Maintain good sleep routines | ||
| Exercise when possible | ||
| Pace activities and conserve energy as needed | ||
| Positive psychology interventions | Enhance positive emotions, such as optimism, joy, humor, or gratitude | Think about future possibilities |
| Hope for good things | ||
| Help others to laugh | ||
| Express appreciation toward others | ||
| Flow | Fully immerse oneself in an activity with focus, energy, and enjoyment | Engage in hobbies, creative projects, music, or work |
| Existential/spiritual | ||
| Religion or spirituality | Engage in a religious practice | Pray |
| Attend church services | ||
| Build community through helping and being helped | Help others and accept help from others | |
| Join community for a common purpose | ||
| Life review | Reflect on life experiences to develop sense of personal coherence, dignity, and legacy | Write letters to loved ones |
| Complete meaningful tasks | ||
| Reconcile relationships | ||
| Engage in legacy work or project | ||
| Meaning-making | Reflect on ways experiences have enhanced personal growth and meaning | Consider positive life changes from the illness |
| Explore new goals and priorities | ||
| Acceptance | Learn to live with and assent to the situation without attempting to change it | Talk with family about the reality of the illness and current goals |
