Coping - The Synaptic Connection

 

I wanted my blog today to be about the science behind coping, neuroscience or simply put the logic of coping. My logic is that every behaviour and action is triggered through some synaptic energy in some corner of our brain. Also what amazes me, is how two people living in the same household, experiencing the same upbringing, can manage to react so differently when it comes to dealing with emotions. I have often seen children from the same household going in different directions despite sharing the same pain and grief. 

I am convinced that this has a lot to do with how our brains are wired, in addition to the sociological factors impacting the same. So I started researching and to my surprise, I was right. Prof. Zhou Jianging and his team from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC)  found that in event of any behavioural challenge, prefrontal corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) is engaged. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) regulates cognitive processes critical for goal-directed behaviour. Management of this neuron can influence behavioural style under challenges. Besides, active CRF neuron helps in stress-resistant behaviours meaning better coping mechanism .https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5026742/

In this context, I also came across the term exposure therapy. Exposure therapy as the name suggests means exposing people to their fears. This is said to have both negative and positive impact, positive in the short run and negative may be in long run. Some research findings also suggest that exposure therapy can also lead to voluntary control over previously avoided traumatic memories. However, this is only to be done under the strict supervision of a medical professional or it would prove detrimental in the long run.

Having established the science behind coping, let us move on to what some of the coping styles we see around us are. Coping styles can be broadly divided between, task-oriented, emotion-oriented or avoidance oriented.

Task-oriented coping seeks to solve the problem at hand. Take for example a student fails in exams. The emotions arising out of that event can be overwhelming. However, if the student aims at doing the next task, they will be able to achieve a sense of relief and doing something.

Emotion Oriented- This focuses on looking for a support system to deal with the emotion one is facing. For example, is someone was trying to get over the loss of a loved one, support from a loved one or even  counselling support can help navigate through feeling

Avoidance Oriented- As the name suggested is dealing with denial and distraction of the situation. This means sometimes creating distance from the thought, place, situation or people that trigger unpleasantness.

We as individuals use difficult, coping styles to overcome our emotional distress, however, whatever it is, and sometimes more than one. It is helpful to know what is happening in our brain while our mind is struggling with stress.

 

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