Think it Through
What's a coping skill?
True or False: taking deep breaths can change how your body feels.
True - it helps your heart rate slow down and your body relax.
Yelling and hitting is an example of what kind of coping?
Unhealthy /unsafe
Name one healthy way to cope with sadness.
Talking to someone, journaling, drawing, or listening to music
Walk away, tell staff, ignore, set boundary.
True or false: Your thoughts can affect how you feel.
True - our thoughts influence our emotions and actions.
Explain why taking space an help prevent a bigger problem.
It gives you time to cool off, think clearly, and avoid making things worse.
You could get in trouble, hurt yourself or others, or make the problem worse.
What's a positive way to handle frustration at school?
Ask for a break, take a deep breath, or talk to the teacher.
You got in trouble and feel angry. What could you do instead of acting out?
What's a trigger?
Something that causes a strong emotional reaction, like a word, sound, or memory.
What's a physical way to release anger safety?
Exercise, punching a pillow, squeezing a stress ball, going for a walk.
Shutting down, yelling, running away, hitting, destroying property, cursing.
Who's someone you can go to for support when you're upset?
A staff member, parent, family member, teacher, Clinician, trusted peer.
Talk to someone, focus on what you can control.
What happens in your body when you start to feel angry/upset?
Your heart beats faster, your muscles tense, or you feel hot or shaky.
Name a place you can go to cool down at the program.
My room.
Why do unsafe coping skills feel good at first but cause problems later?
They give quick relief but don't solve the problem - they often create new or more problems.
How can exercise help you manage anger?
It releases energy and stress, helping your body calm down.
You're sad because your friend ignored you. You feel like they do not like you. What's a healthy way to cope?
Explain the difference between reacting and responding.
Reacting means acting on emotion without thinking, responding means pausing and choosing a healthy action.
Answers may vary. Examples include: going to room, taking deep breaths, squeezing a stress toy, talking to someone you trust, etc.
Give an example of turning an unsafe/inappropriate response to a trigger into a healthy one.
Instead of yelling when angry, take deep breaths or talk to staff.
Using healthy coping skills helps you calm your body, think clearly, stay safe, solve problems, and build trust with others.
You want to run from program/home because you're feeling annoyed/frustrated. What are the cons of running away?
Unsafe, damages trust, consequences.