Name That Feeling
You have a big test tomorrow and you keep thinking about it. What emotion might you be feeling?
Nervous, worried, or anxious.
Name ONE way anxiety can show up in your body.
Stomachache, fast heartbeat, sweating, shaking, tense muscles, feeling hot, etc.
You're starting to feel anxious. Name ONE coping skill you could try.
Deep breathing, grounding, taking a break, talking to someone, listening to music, movement, etc.
You're getting frustrated because plans suddenly changed. What's one thing you could do?
Take a break, ask what the new plan is, breathe, talk about how you feel, etc.
🌧️ + 🏹
Rainbow
Someone raises their voice near you, even though they aren't yelling at you. Your heart starts beating faster and you want to get away. What might you be feeling?
Anxious, scared, overwhelmed, or uncomfortable.
True or false: If your stomach hurts when you're anxious, that means you're pretending to have a stomachache.
Anxiety can cause real physical feelings in the body.
You're fidgeting a lot and feel like you have too much energy in your body. Name something you could do with that energy.
Take a movement break, stretch, walk, dance, use a fidget, squeeze something, etc.
You notice you're getting overwhelmed by a loud room. What could you do BEFORE it becomes too much?
Ask for a break, move somewhere quieter, use headphones if allowed, use a coping skill, tell an adult, etc.
⭐ + 🐟
Starfish.
Your friend is really sad and after talking to them, you start feeling sad too. What might be happening?
You may be picking up on their emotions because you care about them and are empathetic.
Your stomach starts hurting before school, and your first thought is, “Something is wrong. I need to go home.” What could anxiety be doing?
Setting off the body's alarm system and making the stomachache or worry feel stronger.
You're in class and starting to feel overwhelmed, but you can't leave right away. What's one coping skill you could use without anyone really noticing?
Slow breathing, grounding with the five senses, relaxing muscles, positive self-talk, focusing on something in the room, etc.
Your friend is upset and tells you everything that's wrong. Afterward, you can't stop worrying about them. What could you do?
Remind yourself that you can care about someone without fixing everything for them, take a break, talk to a trusted adult, or do something calming.
🔥 + 🪰
Firefly.
You're excited about going somewhere but also worried something might go wrong. Can you be excited AND anxious at the same time?
Yes. You can have more than one feeling at the same time.
Your brain keeps saying, “What if something bad happens?” even though you don't have evidence that something bad will happen. What could you ask yourself?
“What evidence do I have?” “Is this something happening right now or something I'm worried might happen?” “What else could happen?”
You're already at an 8/10 upset and someone tells you, “Just calm down.” Why might a coping skill be harder to use at an 8 than at a 3?
The body and brain are already very activated. It's easier to use coping skills early, before emotions get really big.
Someone you care about is upset, and you feel like it's your job to make them feel better. Is it your responsibility to fix their feelings? Why or why not?
No. You can care, listen, and support someone, but you aren't responsible for making another person's feelings go away.
🧈 + 🪰
Butterfly
Everyone around you seems stressed and suddenly you feel stressed too. How could you figure out whether the feeling is coming from you or whether you're taking on someone else's emotions?
Stop and check in with yourself, think about how you felt before, ask yourself what you are worried about, notice what happened right before the feeling started, etc.
Your anxiety tells you something is dangerous, but another part of you thinks you're probably safe. How could you decide which one to listen to?
Look at the facts, check what is actually happening, think about whether there is real danger, use a coping skill to calm the body, and then decide.
You notice your warning signs: you're tapping more, getting irritated, your stomach feels weird, and you want everyone to leave you alone. What could you do before you hit 10/10? Give a 3-step plan.
Answers vary. Example: recognize “I'm getting overwhelmed” → take space/use a coping skill → tell someone what you need.
Someone around you is really upset. You want to help them, but you're already feeling overwhelmed yourself. What could you do that takes care of both of you?
Let them know you care while setting a boundary or getting another trusted person to help. Example: “I care about you, but I'm getting overwhelmed too. Can we get someone else to help?”
🐂 + 🐶
Bulldog.