Coping strategy
Short answer
A coping strategy is anything you do to manage stress, difficult feelings or a hard situation, such as taking a walk, talking to a friend, writing a list or taking a break. Some strategies help in the long run, others only give short relief. Everyone uses them. Having coping strategies, or needing them, does not indicate ADHD or any other condition.
After a tough day, one person goes for a run, another calls their sister, and a third reorganizes the kitchen. Each is coping. The specific method varies widely, but the goal is the same: getting through stress in a way that keeps life working.
Stress is normal; coping is how we handle it
Helpful in the moment versus helpful over time
Some ways of coping bring quick relief but add problems later, such as avoiding a task until it becomes an emergency or relying on alcohol to unwind. Others take a little effort now and pay off later, like a short walk or a conversation. Most people use a mix, and noticing which ones leave you better off is a good first step.
Practical coping in everyday life
- Writing tasks down so they stop circling in your head.
- Breaking a daunting job into a first small step.
- Setting phone reminders for things you tend to forget.
- Scheduling breaks during long periods of concentration.
- Asking someone you trust to check in on a goal.
These are general strategies anyone can use. They are not treatment for any condition.
Coping and evaluation
Adults who come to an evaluation often describe years of coping strategies, such as many alarms or working late to catch up. Those strategies are useful information, because they can show how much effort daily life takes. Describing them honestly helps a clinician understand your situation, including what is working.
What coping does not show
Needing lots of reminders or lists is not a sign of a disorder. Many highly organized people rely on them. If stress is overwhelming, lasting or getting in the way of daily life, reaching out to a healthcare provider is reasonable. If you are in crisis in the United States, you can call or text 988.
A starting point for your next step.
Take the free screenerFrequently asked questions
What are examples of healthy coping strategies?
CDC and NIMH suggest steps such as getting enough sleep, moving more, journaling, taking breaks from news, deep breathing and talking with people you trust.
What is an unhelpful coping strategy?
One that brings short relief but causes problems later, such as avoiding tasks until they become urgent or relying on alcohol to manage stress.
Does using many coping strategies mean I have ADHD?
No. Everyone copes with stress, and many people rely on lists and reminders. It is not a sign of any condition by itself.
Sources
Source check: 2026-10-28. No medical review has occurred.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Managing Stress"
- National Institute of Mental Health, "I'm So Stressed Out!" Fact Sheet (NIH Publication No. 20-MH-8125)
Published 2026-10-28. Factual source check: ADHDFalcon editorial team, factual source check, 2026-10-28. No medical review has occurred.