Which of the following is NOT a positive coping strategy for generalized anxiety disorder?

• A. Smoking
• B. Knitting
• C. Jogging
• D. Counseling

Answer: (A)

Coping with generalized anxiety disorder works best when strategies reduce arousal and teach skills to manage worry. Smoking isn’t a positive coping strategy because it offers only transient relief and then sustains anxiety through nicotine dependence and withdrawal, while not teaching real skills to handle anxious thoughts or stress. In contrast, knitting provides a grounding, rhythmic activity that can calm the mind; jogging is physical exercise that lowers anxiety through endorphins and reduced muscle tension; counseling (therapy) helps develop coping skills and cognitive strategies to manage worry. So the option that is not a positive coping approach is smoking.