Emotions
A feeling you my have when you are constantly thinking about something and are unsure of what the outcome will be.
What is worry?
These are the things that can result in someone becoming upset and/or dysregulated. These things can vary from person-to-person.
What are triggers?
There are both good and bad feelings.
What is false? Feelings are not good or bad, right or wrong, they are just feelings. You have a choice in how you express them, which can result in positive or negative consequences.
In through your nose, out through your mouth.
What is deep breathing?
Playing a favorite game, being with friends or family members, enjoying activities, etc.
What can cause happiness?
When we get to the point where we 'flip our lid', it is a good time to talk about what is bothering us.
Once we have gotten to the point where we have 'flipped our lid', our thinking skills are unavailable. Problems are best resolved once we have had the chance to calm ourselves down, so that we have regained control of our emotions.
These are the things that you can use to help yourself to calm and/or to regain control of your behaviour.
What are coping strategies?
You can have more than one feeling at a time.
What is true?
Being away from the group and/or situation to calm our body, our thoughts, and try to change our feelings.
What is separating ourselves from the situation?
Being home alone, someone is very ill, you hear strange noises, it's dark outside, etc.
What can cause fear?
Name some of the ways that we can communicate with others WITHOUT using our words.
What is body language, facial expressions, posture etc.?
These are some of the things that we can do to help ourselves to calm down when we are experiencing a big feeling.
What is deep breathe, use our coping skills, use the 'acting opposite' or the 'stop' skill etc.?
Other people can make me feel a certain way.
What is false? Our feelings come from our thoughts, so others do not have the power to make us feel bad unless we allow them to.
Using words to describe your thoughts and feelings to someone you trust.
What is talk it out/communicate?
You and your friend are in a fight, your parents won't give you something you want, your teacher says 'no' to you etc.
What can cause anger?
When a bully tries to steal something from you, it is okay to do whatever it takes to get your belongings back.
When dealing with a bully, getting help from a grown-up that you trust is more helpful than fighting back.
When talking to someone, using these statements can help us to solve a problem and/or to resolve conflict.
What are 'I Feel' statements?
Crying is a normal reaction to strong feelings.
What is true? Crying releases tension. Some scientists believe that it releases stress hormones too, which is why we feel better after a good cry.
Teaching children basic words like happy, sad, mad, or scared to help build emotional literacy and/or to understand their emotions. For example, "Your eyebrows are squished together. Are you feeling angry?"
What is 'naming the feeling'.
Your friend doesn't show up when they said they would, you missed a birthday party, you don't have enough money to buy a toy that you really want, etc.
What can cause disappointment?
A heavy, uncomfortable feeling that makes someone want to hide because they feel like they are bad, rather than just that they made a mistake.
What is shame?
This activity helps us to identify the physical sensations that we experience in our body when we are dysregulated/upset.
What is body mapping?
Ignoring your feeling makes them go away.
What is false? Ignoring our feelings only makes them grow more intense. Like a pressure valve, our feelings will slowly seep out or explode in unintended and potentially harmful ways.
An example of this is asking children/ourselves where in our body we feel an emotion. For example, does our anger feel hot in our hands? Does worry feel like a fluttery butterfly in our tummy?
What is body scanning?
You're scared to get in trouble and/or you feel a warm, wobbly "uh-oh" feeling when you think that everyone is looking at a silly mistake or an accident.
What can cause embarrassment?