Emotion Brain vs Thinking Brain
You lose a game and throw your piece
→ What brain is this?
emotion brain!
“What does ANTS stand for?”
automatic negative thoughts
Name something you can’t control
→ “Other people” / “What others say” / “The weather”
Name 2 calming skills you’ve used
→ “Deep breathing” / “Taking a break” / “Talking to someone”
Name one thing you’re proud of!
→ “Not giving up” / “Trying hard” / “Learning new skills”
You pause, take a breath, and try again
→ What brain is this?
thinking brain!
“Give an example of an ANTS thought”
give example (→ “I can’t do this” / “I’m bad at this” / “Everyone is better than me”)
What’s something you can control when you’re upset?
→ “My breathing” / “What I say” / “Taking a break”
What helps when you feel overwhelmed?
→ “Quiet time” / “Listening to music” / “Squeezing something”
What makes you a good friend/person?
→ “I’m kind” / “I listen” / “I help others”
You get corrected and immediately defend yourself
→ What brain is this?
give us a reason!
“What can you say back to an ANTS thought?”
→ “That’s just a thought, not a fact”
→ “I can try my best”
→ “I’ve done hard things before”
What do we do when something is outside our control?
→ “Let it go” / “Focus on what I can do”
Show me a strategy instead of telling me
demonstrate!
What’s something you’ve improved on?
→ “Controlling my reactions” / “Being patient”
You feel mad but say, “I need a second”
→ What brain is this?
wise brain
How can you tell when your brain is trying to trick you?
→ “It sounds really negative or extreme”
→ “It says ‘always’ or ‘never’”
what can you do when something feels out of your control?
→ “Ask for help” / “Use a coping skill” / “Walk away”
Which calming skill works best for you and why?
→ “Breathing, because it calms my body”
→ “Taking space, because I need quiet”
What is a strength you have now that you didn’t notice before?
→ “I can stay calm”
→ “I can handle hard things”
The class schedule changes and you feel annoyed but say, “Okay, I can handle it” and adjust
→ What brain is this?
wise brain!
What can you do right when you notice an ANTS thought?
→ “Pause and notice it”
→ “Name it: ‘That’s an ANTS thought’”
→ “Replace it with a more helpful thought”
What’s one small choice you can make even in a bad situation?
→ “Stay calm” / “Use kind words” / “Try again”
What can you do if your first coping strategy doesn’t work?
→ “Try a different one”
→ “Ask for help”
If someone asked what’s awesome about you, what would you say?
→ “I try my best”
→ “I don’t give up”
→ “I’m strong”