Which statement best describes coping skills in the context of terminal illness?

• A. Medical treatments are the only strategy
• B. Isolation from social support
• C. Coping skills
• D. Ignoring emotional needs

Answer: (C)

Coping skills are the set of strategies people use to manage the stress, symptoms, and emotional toll of terminal illness. They go beyond medical treatments and include seeking social support, communicating needs to loved ones and providers, maintaining routines, practicing relaxation or mindfulness, solving practical problems to adapt daily life, and finding meaning or purpose through spirituality, relationships, or activities. These skills help regulate emotions, reduce anxiety, and preserve quality of life while navigating the illness.

The best description is that coping skills encompass these deliberate strategies for handling the challenges of terminal illness. Relying only on medical treatments misses the emotional and social aspects of coping; isolating oneself from support weakens the resources available to cope; and ignoring emotional needs undermines the very processes that help people adapt and endure.