"Of necessity there will have to be discussion of matters medical, psychiatric, social, and religious."  - Alcoholics Anonymous - 3rd. Edition - Page 19.

Note:  This is a list of the more common methods human beings use to 'deal' with life's internal and external stressors.  The list includes degrees of more or less functional and dysfunctional ( ineffective ) methods - not measurements of sanity or psychosis.  In other words...  we should all find ourselves utilizing some of these in varying degrees.
It is fairly obvious which methods are the more effective and favorable - though certain variations in circumstance and situation may call forward methods that appear unfavorable though be the more effective given the particulars of the moment. 
In other words - if the ground is shaking and a crack forms between your feet - run like hell! - don't be cool, calm, and collected - analytical or philosophical.   :-)

( Repeat the following line in front of the ... for each definition. )

The individual deals with emotional conflict or internal or external stressors by...

ACTING OUT -   ...by actions rather than reflections or feelings.  Defensive acting out is not synonymous with "bad behavior" because it requires evidence that the behavior is related to emotional conflicts.  ( Generally - "raising hell"  in motion - mouth or otherwise - unless it's 'acting out' by 'acting in' - then what - probably some form of physical sickness - depression, etc. )

AFFILIATION -  ...by turning to others for help or support.  This involves sharing problems with others but does not imply trying to make someone else responsible for them.  ( What do you mean THEY aren't responsible for MY problems???!!!!  :-)  Yea but...

ALTRUISM - ...by dedication to meeting the needs of others.  Unlike the self-sacrifice sometimes characteristic of reaction formation ( listed below ), the individual receives gratification either vicariously or from the response of others.  ( Best watch out for that 'vicarious' stuff :-)  ( second hand - substitute - through others - roughly )

ANTICIPATION -  ...by experiencing emotional reactions in advance of, or anticipating consequences of, possible future events and considering realistic, alternative responses or solutions.  ( Choices?  What choices?  You mean I have choices?  Oh no!  :-)

AUTISTIC FANTASY -  ...by excessive daydreaming as a substitute for human relationships, more effective action, or problem solving.  ( Watch out for website mastering too! :-)

DENIAL -  ...by refusing to acknowledge some painful aspect of external reality or subjective ( inner ) experience that would be apparent to others.  The term psychotic denial is used when there is gross impairment in reality testing.  ( What? - Me Worry! ) - or is it -  ( What! - Me Worry? ) or is it - what difference does it make?

DEVALUATION -  ...by attributing exaggerated negative qualities to self or others. ( OK - OK - So I'm a worthless jerk and always was and always will be ! )

DISPLACEMENT -  ...by transferring a feeling about, or a response to, one object onto another ( usually less threatening ) substitute object. ( The DOG bit ya so ya kill the CAT )

DISSOCIATION -  ...by with a breakdown in the usually integrated functions of consciousness, memory, perception of self or the environment, or sensory/motor behavior.  ( Comfortably Numb )

HELP- REJECTING COMPLAINING - ...by complaining or making repetitious requests for help that disguise covert ( hidden ) feelings of hostility or reproach toward others, which are then expressed by rejecting the suggestions, advice,  or help that others offer.  The complaints or requests may involve physical or psychological symptoms or life problems.   ( Woe be unto those who 'sponsor' one of these. )

HUMOR -  ...by emphasizing the amusing or ironic aspects of the conflict or stressor.
( This one hits me head on - reminds me of what a friend of mine used to say after a bad night at the dog track:  " I don't know why I'm laughing - I guess it's because tears look so bad on me. )

IDEALIZATION - ...by attributing exaggerated positive qualities to others.  ( I know they're killing me and my family - but they're my GOD, Father, Mother, Husband, Wife, Lover, Soul Mate and besides that...  they're really really special ! )

INTELLECTUALIZATION -  ...by the excessive use of abstract thinking or the making of generalizations to control or minimize disturbing feelings.  ( Ouch! ) ( Concrete Reality Testing - yea - I've heard of that...  but Fantasy Land is more fun :-)

ISOLATION OF AFFECT -  ...by the separation of ideas from the feelings originally associated with them.  The individual loses touch with the feelings associated with a given idea ( e.g., a traumatic event ) while remaining aware of the cognitive elements of it ( e.g., descriptive details ).  ( Oh my...  Intellectualization and Humor really helps here :-)

OMNIPOTENCE -  ...by feeling or acting as if he or she possesses special powers or abilities and is superior to others.  ( Meet one of these - run, don't walk, in the opposite direction ASAP :-)

PASSIVE AGGRESSION - ...by indirectly and unassertively expressing aggression toward others.  There is a facade of overt ( outwardly apparent ) compliance masking covert ( hidden ) resistance, resentment, or hostility.  Passive aggression often occurs in response to demands for independent action or performance or the lack of gratification of dependent wishes - but - may be adaptive for individuals in subordinate positions who have no other way to express assertiveness more overtly ( outwardly ).  ( The classic story of the dog licking your face while it's peeing on your shoes - LP )

PROJECTION -  ...by falsely attributing to another his or her own unacceptable feelings, impulses, or thoughts.  ( I know damn well he/she's secretly seeing someone else - so I am too! by gawd! )

PROJECTIVE IDENTIFICATION - ...As in PROJECTION... by falsely attributing to another his or her own unacceptable feelings, impulses, or thoughts.  Unlike simple projection, the individual does not fully disavow what is projected.  Instead, the individual remains aware of his or her own affects or impulses but misattributes them as justifiable reactions to the other person.  Not infrequently, the individual induces the very feelings in others that were mistakenly believed to be there, making it difficult to clarify who did what to whom first.  ( Read this about 6 times - you'll get it... :-) - or visit most any AA or Alanon meeting :-)     ( Or a fancy description for the 'yea buts' )

RATIONALIZATION -  ...by concealing the true motivation for his or her own thoughts, actions, or feelings,  through the elaboration of reassuring or self-serving but incorrect explanations.  ( Ahemmm....  well...  it's like this... )

REACTION FORMATION -  ...by substituting behavior, thoughts, or feelings that are diametrically opposed to his or her own unacceptable thoughts or feelings ( this usually occurs in conjunction with their repression ).  ( Repress those nasty little demons and form a false saint front - and really get wacked out! )

REPRESSION -  ...by expelling disturbing wishes, thoughts, or experiences from conscious awareness.  The feeling component may remain conscious, detached from its associated ideas.  ( In other words - example:  You're angry or depressed as hell - though haven't a clue as to why!  I'm FINE - I'm FINE - I'm FINE ...  Enter 4th. / 5th. Step please. )

SELF ASSERTION -  ...by expressing his or her feelings and thoughts directly in a way that is not coercive or manipulative.  ( Those 'I' messages - "Keep It In Your Own Skin" things - takes a lot of practice of a new language - or a good assertiveness training course. ) ( "I know it's about my stuff but I need you to get your act together - now! :-)

SELF OBSERVATION -  ...by reflecting on his or her own thoughts, feelings, motivation, and behavior, and responding appropriately.  ( Appropriately...  hmmm... duhhh... )

SPLITTING -  ...by compartmentalizing opposite states and failing to integrate the positive and negative qualities of the self or others into cohesive images.  Because ambivalent affects cannot be experienced simultaneously, more balanced views and expectations of self and others are excluded from emotional awareness.  Self and object images tend to alternate between polar opposites:  exclusively loving, powerful, worthy, nurturant ( caring ), and kind-- or exclusively bad, hateful, angry, destructive, rejecting, or worthless.  ( Night or day - roses have thorns - too - y'all ! )

SUBLIMATION -  ...by channeling potentially maladaptive feelings or impulses into socially acceptable behavior ( e.g., contact sports to channel angry impulses ).  ( Or when ya learn not to slap cops - or anyone else... )

SUPPRESSION -  ...by intentionally avoiding thinking about disturbing problems, wishes, feelings, or experiences.  ( Honey...  there is no elephant in the living room! - Is there ? )

UNDOING - ...by words or behavior designed to negate or to make amends symbolically for unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or actions.  ( I'm sorry I broke one arm and both your legs last night - will you marry me tomorrow? )