The Nervous System
What part of your body acts like a command center, helping coordinate your thoughts, movements, and responses?
Answer: The brain.
Explain: The brain helps process information and coordinate responses throughout the body.
What are the three common stress responses called fight, flight, and…?
Answer: Freeze.
Explain: Fight, flight, and freeze are common ways the body may respond to perceived danger.
When you are in your zone of tolerance, are you generally better able or less able to think clearly and handle everyday challenges?
Answer: Better able.
Explain: We can still feel sad, angry, or worried while remaining within our zone.
You receive an unexpected, upsetting phone call. What is one early sign that your body may be responding to stress?
Answer: Tight shoulders, clenched jaw, a racing heart, or changes in breathing.
Explain: Learning your own early warning signs can help you respond before stress builds further.
Your heart pounds, your muscles tense, and you start breathing faster when you feel threatened. What system is helping prepare your body to respond?
Answer: The nervous system.
Explain: It helps the body respond to what is happening inside and around us.
Someone gets angry, raises their voice, and feels ready to argue when they feel threatened. Which stress response might this be?
Answer: Fight.
Explain: Fight can look like anger, defensiveness, or feeling ready to confront something.
Your heart is racing, your thoughts are moving fast, and everything feels like too much. Are you likely above or below your zone of tolerance?
Answer: Above the zone — overly activated.
Explain: This is often called hyperarousal. You may feel anxious, panicky, angry, or on edge.
You are lying awake worrying about tomorrow. Name one thing you could do to help bring your attention back to the present.
Answer: Notice your breathing, feel the bed supporting you, or gently name things you can hear.
Explain: The goal is not to force away every worry. It is to give your attention something steady to return to.
Our nervous system responds not only to physical danger but also:
Answer: stress, worry, and upsetting memories
Explain: A difficult conversation or a worrying thought can trigger real physical stress responses.
Someone feels anxious and keeps avoiding phone calls, appointments, or difficult conversations. Which stress response might be involved?
Answer: Flight.
Explain: Flight can involve escaping, avoiding, or trying to get away from something that feels threatening.
You feel numb, disconnected, exhausted, or as if you cannot get yourself moving. Which direction might you have moved outside your zone?
Answer: Below the zone — underactivated or shut down.
Explain: This can involve feeling disconnected or having very little energy. Fatigue, illness, and depression can also contribute to these feelings.
A family member says something hurtful, and you feel your anger rising. What might be more helpful than immediately saying the first thing that comes to mind?
Answer: Pause, take a breath, and choose how to respond when you are ready.
Explain: Regulation can create a little space between what we feel and what we do.
When you feel stressed, your body may react before you have had time to think things through. What does this tell us about the nervous system?
Answer: Some responses happen automatically, without us choosing them.
Explain: We do not have to consciously decide to have a racing heart or tense muscles.
Someone feels overwhelmed during a difficult conversation and suddenly cannot think of what to say. Which stress response might be happening?
Answer: Freeze.
Explain: Freeze can feel like being stuck, going blank, or having difficulty responding.
Does being in your zone of tolerance mean you do not get upset, worried, or sad?
Answer: No. It means you can experience feelings and still manage them.
Explain: The goal is not to eliminate emotions. It is to have enough room to experience them and respond.
You have had a stressful day and feel both tired and irritable. Name one way you might help your nervous system settle this evening.
Answer: Answers may include resting, listening to music, taking a gentle walk, having a calming routine, or talking with someone supportive.
Explain: There is no single best strategy. Notice what helps you personally.
Why might two people react differently to the exact same stressful situation?
Answer: Their experiences, health, stress levels, and sense of safety may differ.
Explain: Our nervous systems are influenced by many factors. Different reactions do not mean someone is weak.
Are fight, flight, and freeze usually deliberate choices or occur automatically?
Answer: They can happen automatically.
Explain: These responses are protective reactions, not character flaws. Recognizing them can help us decide what to do next.
You notice that you are getting overwhelmed during a family disagreement. What is one useful thing to do before continuing the conversation?
Answer: Pause, notice what is happening, and use a calming or grounding strategy.
Explain: Taking a break, slowing your breathing, or getting a drink of water may help you return to a state where you can respond more thoughtfully.
You notice a friend is upset and having trouble calming down. What might you do to help them feel safer without telling them to 'just calm down'?
Answer: Listen, speak gently, offer support, ask what they need, or sit with them if they want company.
Explain: Feeling heard and supported can help us regulate. Ask rather than assume what will be helpful.