Coping Statements for Replacing Dysfunctional Thoughts

Danica Joan June 16, 2022

A Coping Statement is a short, simple, and direct phrase validating your positive humanity as an individual; for example, “I believe in myself.” These statements work because they offer you an alternative, positive thought to replace a negative, dysfunctional thought. Several points are helpful before working with coping statements:

Use the most positive affirmations you can to replace old, negative dysfunctional thoughts, even if you don’t believe it yet.
Don’t use affirmations in the future tense because it is important for your mind to experience a new belief as if it has already occurred. For example, don’t say, “I will be able to express myself comfortably” but “I am able to express myself comfortably.”
Writing down or saying the affirmations out loud will produce a deeper level of knowing and believing than reading them to yourself.
Repetition will also allow you to believe in a deeper way.

Here are some useful coping statements:

I am a worthwhile, deserving person

I am worthy of love

I love and accept myself.

I am safe and always feel protected.

I am unique and loving, loved and free.

I am acceptable just because I’m a human being.

I am healthy in all aspects of my being.

Only I decide what success means to me.

I accept my feelings and manage them effectively.

I alone am responsible for my choices.

I am successful in many ways.

I have the power to forgive myself for past mistakes.

I can set my own boundaries.

I deserve support, and it’s perfectly all right to ask for it.

I am filled with energy to do all the daily activities of my life.

I am at peace with all those around me.

I express anger in appropriate ways.

I am free to be myself.

I am responsible for my life.

I am at one with myself.

I can trust my perceptions.

I overcome obstacle to reach my goals.

Each mistake I make is an opportunity to learn.

My future begins now.