DEAL WITH YOUR EMOTIONS IN A HEALTHIER WAY
COPING STRATEGIES VS. COPING MECHANISMS
What do you do when you feel anxious, sad, or stressed? Do you reach for your phone to scroll through Instagram? Do you turn to a Snickers bar for comfort? Maybe an episode of “Parks and Recreation” is your go-to form of relief. If you use any of these methods, you’re not alone. When humans face difficult situations, they often turn to coping mechanisms to numb emotions and help themselves feel better in the moment. Emotional development expert Alyssa Blask Campbell identifies many common coping mechanisms, including engaging in screen time, making to-do lists, seeking information, indulging in alcohol or cigarettes, and asserting control where possible. Coping mechanisms make you feel better in the moment, but they don’t always help process and deal with emotions in the long run. Coping Strategies vs. Mechanisms
focus on coping strategies that help you work through challenging emotions and find calm again.
There are also certain immunities and regulations for government- owned vehicles. For example, emergency response vehicles are permitted to weave in and out of traffic and speed to get to the scene of an emergency efficiently. Commercial Vehicles In the private sector, there are some rules specific to drivers of commercial vehicles. These can be put in place by governing bodies or by businesses, but unfortunately, some professional drivers disregard these regulations. For example, the Georgia Department of Public Safety notes that drivers must be “off duty” after driving for 14 hours and must get 10 consecutive hours of time off in a 24-hour period. Drivers also cannot be “on duty” for more than 70 hours in an eight-day period if the company operates every day. However, some drivers and companies stretch these limits. Many companies also have their own guidelines and operating procedures, which can cause confusion for those trying to prove negligence or navigate the proper steps when filing an accident claim. An accident involving a government-owned or commercial vehicle can be incredibly complex, and representing yourself could prove costly. Our legal experts have experience in a number of unique accident situations. If you would like assistance with your claim, call 229-888-0888. Coping strategies are things like breathing exercises, talk therapy, journaling, reading, and physical movement like dancing. While these may take more time to yield results than a TV program or candy bar, tapping into these strategies helps you feel better and process what you’re going through, which allows you to release whatever is causing you strife. Because the way you react when your emotions overwhelm you has an impact on the way you feel during and after that experience, it’s all the more important to understand the different coping tools at your disposal. As you learn to incorporate coping strategies into your life and call on them when you’re dealing with hard emotions, give yourself grace. You can still turn to healthy coping mechanisms when you need them. The key is to also incorporate some of these strategies to help you better process whatever comes your way.
Turning to coping mechanisms is a habit you may have learned as a kid. It’s understandable, and it’s okay. But instead, you want to
THE COMPLEXITIES OF AN ACCIDENT WITH A GOVERNMENT-OWNED OR COMMERCIAL VEHICLE Vehicle accidents take just seconds to occur, yet the consequences can be complex. Depending on the background of the other parties involved in an accident, the entire process of filing a claim can change, including your ability to seek compensation and the amount you’re owed. Below are two characteristics of vehicles that can affect your claim. Government-Owned Vehicles From city-owned dump trucks to federal SUVs, there are numerous government-owned vehicles occupying Georgia roadways. After an accident, the statute of limitations to file a claim against a government agency varies from the standard limit. Typically, parties have two years to file a claim against other parties involved in an accident, but that number fluctuates depending on the agency. If you are filing a claim against a city or county vehicle, that deadline is just six months. For state- issued vehicles, the time limit is one year, while federal vehicles follow the two-year rule. However, if your claim against a federal vehicle is denied, you have about six months to dispute the decision.
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