Coping is the way how we deal with stress. By stress we refer to both internal and external stress. Coping mechanism is the way how we fight the stress or adapt to the stress or act upon the stress. Coping is basically the sum total of our cognitive and behavioural efforts which we use to manage stress. Coping and stress are very related to each other. The text book definition says that coping is the method by which we master, reduce or tolerate the demands which are put on us by stress.