Crisis or Nah?
True or False: Every stressful situation is a crisis.
False: Something can be stressful, upsetting, or difficult without being a crisis.
Finish the sequence: Body > Thoughts > Feelings > _______ > Actions
Behaviors
Name one healthy coping skill you can use when you're stressed.
Any reasonable healthy coping skill counts.
You're angry, so you take five minutes away from the situation before talking.
Fire Extinguisher
You're having a terrible day. Which is probably more helpful: A)scream at everyone, B) pretend you have no feelings, or C) take a break and figure out what you need?
C
You studied for a test and got a C. You're disappointed and annoyed. Crisis or probably not a crisis?
Probably not a crisis: It's upsetting, but it can likely be handled with normal coping/problem-solving skills.
Racing heart, sweaty palms (moms spaghetti), shaky hands, and a stomachache belong to which warning sign category?
Body
True or False: If a coping skill works for your friend, it will definitely work for you.
False. Different coping skills work for different people.
You're already upset, so you start reading old messages that make you even angrier.
Fuel
Your brain has approximately 47 tabs open and one of them is playing music but you can't figure out which one. What might your body or behavior be telling you?
You may be overwhelmed/stressed and noticing warning signs that it's time to use a coping skill.
Name 2 things that can help us decide whether a situation is becoming a crisis.
Examples: safety risk, ability to cope, intensity, feeling out of control, major change in functioning, needing immediate help.
"Nobody likes me", "I cant do anything right", and "This is never going to get better" belong to which category?
Thoughts
You are furious and feel like you're about to say something you'll regret. Name two coping skills you could try before responding.
Examples: walk away, deep breathing, count, grounding, music, cold water, talk to someone, take a break.
Your friend is panicking and you say, “Calm down. It's literally not that serious.”
Fuel
Your friend is having a rough time. What's usually more helpful: A)“Other people have it worse,” B) “Just don't think about it,” or C)“Do you want me to listen or help you figure out what to do?”
C
Two people experience the exact same event. One feels able to handle it and the other feels completely overwhelmed. Can the event be a crisis for one person but not the other? Why?
Yes! A crisis depends partly on the person's perception, coping resources, supports and ability to manage the situation.
Someone normally hangs out with friends every day but suddenly starts staying alone in their room, skipping activities, and barely talking. Why might this be more important than simply saying “staying in your room is a warning sign”?
Because changes from someone's normal behavior, patterns, intensity, and combinations of signs are what matter.
What are three questions you could ask yourself to decide whether a coping skill actually works?
Examples: Does it help me feel more in control? Is it safe? Does it solve the problem or make it worse later? Does it hurt me/someone else?
You're overwhelmed and tell a trusted adult, “I'm not doing great right now and I think I need some help.”
Fire Extinguisher
You notice you're getting irritated, your jaw is tight, you're thinking “everyone needs to leave me alone,” and you start snapping at people. What's the BEST time to use a coping skill: before, during, or after you completely lose control?
As early as possible. Catching warning signs early gives us more choices.
Your friend says, "That's not a real crisis. You're being dramatic." What is wrong with this statement?
We cannot always determine how serious something feels to another person. We should look at safety, functioning, coping ability, and what support they need instead of judging them.
Marissa's stomach hurts, they keep thinking “I can't handle this,” they feel panicked, they stop answering texts, and then they skip school. Identify the body, thought, feeling, behavior, and actionwarning signs.
Body: stomach hurts. Thought: “I can't handle this.” Feeling: panic. Behavior: stops answering texts/withdraws. Action: skips school.
Someone says, “Gaming is my coping skill.” Sometimes they play for an hour and feel better. Other times they play all night, skip school, and ignore everything. Is gaming a good or bad coping skill? Explain.
It depends on how it's used. A coping skill can become unhelpful if it creates more problems, becomes excessive, or prevents us from dealing with what needs attention.
You're furious at someone, so you type the meanest text imaginable... but don't send it. You put your phone down, calm down, reread it later, delete it, and decide what you actually want to say. Fuel, extinguisher, or both? Explain.
Potentially both, but overall an extinguisher if used safely. Writing may release feelings, while waiting before acting prevents adding fuel to the conflict.
ULTIMATE CHALLENGE: You're overwhelmed after a horrible day. Your heart is racing, you're thinking “I can't deal with one more thing,” you feel angry and anxious, and you're starting to yell at people. Walk us through what you could do next using what you learned this week.
Identify warning signs → pause → use an appropriate coping skill → reduce things adding fuel → communicate/get support → seek additional help if safety becomes a concern.