Coping Skills
One example of a coping skill
Riding a bike, talking to friends, taking a walk, deep breathing, sleeping, eating a healthy snack, ice cubes, etc.
Define self-care.
Name one of your safe people.
any answer :)
Three characteristics of a safe place
Quiet, has your safe people in it, no illegal activities happening there, no violence, consistent, etc
Define a trigger.
A trigger is something that causes a person to feel or act a certain way.
When should you first use your coping skill?
When you feel a negative change in your emotional state...or whenever you need a boost.
Angel feels the most anxiety when she gets tired. What kind of self-care strategy could Angel try to help herself?
A regular sleep pattern, scheduling a short nap in the afternoon
True/False: A safe person ignores you when you ask them for advice.
False. A safe person will respect you by giving you an answer or asking you to talk at a better time.
Name one of your safe places
Any answer :)
True/False: Everybody is triggered by loud noises.
False. Everyone's triggers are different and it's important to have an open mind.
Jittery feelings, sweaty hands and feet, stomach pains, nausea, increased heart-rate, tension in the neck/shoulders/back/face, crying, itching, feelings of extreme hot or cold
Joseph drinks 3 cups of coffee a day. He loves coffee, but it makes him jittery and distracted. Drinking coffee is comforting for Joseph. How can he balance his love for coffee with his health?
True/False: Your safe person should be available any time you want to talk to them.
False. Safe people still have jobs and responsibilities. Although a safe person wants to help you as much as possible, they won't always be available Be sure to look for more than one safe person to count on!
True/False: Your safe place has to be inside your house.
False. Your safe place is anywhere that you feel protected and secure.
What is an internal trigger?
An internal trigger is something that the individual experiences inside their brain, such as a flash-back, a negative thought, or a memory.
True/False: Drugs and alcohol are a healthy way to cope.
False. Drugs and alcohol can damage young brains. Even as adults, moderation is important. Using drugs or alcohol can "help" you feel less of an emotion, but they are not dependable or healthy and can cause larger problems when uncontrolled.
Yes! Knowing that you smell and look nice can boost self-esteem and energy.
Jacob and Justin have been best friends for 5 years and know everything about each other. Justin is reliable and accepts Jacob for who he is, but Justin demands that Jacob spend all his free time with him and gets defensive if Jacob doesn't want to. Is Justin a safe person for Jacob?
No. Justin has the potential to be a great safe person for Jacob, but first he needs to learn to give Jacob healthy space.
You feel overwhelmed at school. Your safe place is the gym, but gym time isn't for 3 more hours. What can you do?
Name two ways to manage triggers.
Share your safety plan with trusted adults. Using coping skills. Avoiding triggers when possible. Keeping a safe item like a stuffed animal or stressball with you. Identify the emotion that the trigger is causing.
Sometimes when Leslie is overwhelmed, she self-harms. Leslie has already tried to use her coping skills (exercising for 30 minutes and chewing on ice). Nothing is working. What should Leslie do now?
Try a new coping skill or try her safe place/activity/person.
Is it self-care to reward yourself with candy every day?
No. Self-care strategies should be good for your body AND mind. Candy is a good treat once in a while and rewards can be useful, but make sure they're healthy and reasonable.
Penelope is Cameron's teacher. She doesn't always tell Cameron what he wants to hear, but she gives feedback kindly and she encourages Cameron to challenge himself in school. Cameron feels like Ms. Penelope wants the best for him. Is Ms. Penelope a safe person for Cameron?
Yes. Ms. Penelope is honest and nice. She wants Cameron to achieve his goals and is willing to help him. Cameron feels comfortable around Ms. Penelope.
What is a National Safe Place?
A National Safe Place is a marked spot that is safe for abused, lost, and run-away youth. Safe Places display a yellow, diamond-shaped sign that says "Safe Place." The A in Place is shaped like a house. Safe Places include fire stations, Quik-Trips, libraries, YMCAs, and many other locations. The employees at the location are trained to help.
Callie always walks to class with Rachel. Tuesday, Rachel is sick and can't go to class. Callie attends her first two classes without any issue, but when it's time for history class, Callie has a panic attack in the hallway. What could've triggered Callie?
Not having someone to walk with, worrying about her friend being sick, something about history class, something that happened during the first classes