Coping Skills Toolbox
When your heart is racing and your thoughts feel jumbled before a test, this coping skill can help your body calm down.
What is deep breathing?
This emotion is often felt when something makes you laugh or when things are going well.
What is happiness?
This simple habit can help your mood by giving your brain a rest from screens and stress.
What is taking a break?
When your brain keeps repeating a negative thought you can do this to calm yourself and stay in control.
What is take a deep breath (practice mindfulness)
When you're feeling angry, yelling or hitting someone is a _____ choice while taking a few deep breaths is a _______choice
What is a bad choice; good choice?
Doing something active like jumping jacks a quick walk or stretching to release stress is an example of this coping skill.
What is physical movement (or exercise)?
This feeling can show up as a tight chest, fast heartbeat, or nervous thoughts before a big test or presentation.
What is anxiety?
Spending time with friends, talking, or laughing together can help lift your mood because it gives you this.
What is social connection (friendship)?
Setting a small, realistic goal and achieving it helps you feel confident and this.
What is proud of yourself?
Choosing to do your homework on time instead of procrastinating is an example of what kind of choice.
What is a good choice?
This coping tool helps you calm down by focusing on what you can see, hear, or touch in the moment.
What is grounding?
This emotion may appear when something feels unfair or when your boundaries are crossed.
What is anger?
Doing something creative like drawing, writing, or playing music, can help you improve your mood by letting you do this.
What is express yourself?
This skill helps you keep going even when things are hard, like practicing a new sport or learning something challenging.
What is perseverance
If a friend asked you to do something unsafe, like skipping class, using this part of your brain helps you to make the smart decision.
What is your prefrontal cortex (or thinking brain)?
Using a stress ball, fidget, or squeezing something soft to help you focus and calm down is this type of coping skill.
What is sensory coping (or using a fidget)?
This feeling can happen when you lose something important or feel disappointed, even if no one can see it on the outside.
What is sadness?
Getting enough of this at night helps your brain reset and can make you less irritable the next day.
What is sleep?
When something feels unfair or frustrating, instead of acting out, you can do this to handle your feelings in a healthy way.
What is use coping skills
This type of choice helps your body and mind stay healthy like eating vegetables getting sleep and staying active.
What is a brain choice?
When you talk to a trusted adult, teacher, or friend for help instead of keeping your feelings inside, you are using this coping skill.
What is asking for support (talking it out)?
This emotion helps protect you by warning you when something feels unsafe or scary.
What is fear?
When you notice a negative thought and replace it with a more helpful one, you are using this new boosting skill.
What is positive self-talk (or reframing your thoughts)?
When you make a mistake this mindset helps you learn from it instead of feeling defeated.
What is growth mindset?
When you make a choice without thinking about the consequences and later regret it what is this called.
What is a bad choice?