Triggers & Feelings
What is a trigger?
A trigger is something that causes an emotional reaction, like anger, based on past experiences or current stress.
Name one healthy coping skill.
Deep breathing, taking a break, going for a walk, talking to someone, journaling, walking away, or listening to music. or using positive self-talk.
What is active listening?
Paying full attention, making eye contact, and responding thoughtfully without interrupting.
True or False: Anger means you’re out of control.
False. Feeling anger doesn’t mean you’re out of control—how you act matters.
What is the first step in solving a problem?
Recognizing and identifying what the actual problem is.
Name one physical sign of anger.
Increased heart rate, clenched fists, tense muscles, or flushed face.
What does deep breathing do for your body?
It calms your nervous system, lowers heart rate, and helps you think more clearly.
Name one “I” statement.
“I feel frustrated when I’m not heard.”
Myth or Fact: Boys get angrier than girls.
Myth. Everyone feels anger; people just express it differently.
Why is it important to pause before reacting?
Pausing gives your brain time to think instead of acting on impulse.
True or False: Anger is always a bad emotion.
False. Anger is a normal emotion; it’s how you express it that matters.
True or False: Ignoring anger makes it go away.
False. Ignoring anger usually makes it build up and come out stronger later.
Why is yelling not effective communication?
It makes others defensive and escalates conflict instead of solving it.
Myth or Fact: You should never feel angry.
Myth. Anger is a normal human emotion that everyone feels.
Name one possible consequence of reacting impulsively when angry.
You might say something hurtful, get in trouble, or make the situation worse.
Describe a situation that made you feel angry recently.
A situation might be someone taking something without asking or feeling blamed for something you didn’t do.
(Open-ended; encourage sharing and reflection.)
Describe a time you used a coping skill successfully.
An example: “I walked away and took deep breaths instead of yelling when I felt myself getting upset.”
(Open-ended; encourage sharing and praise positive behavior.)
Role-play: Respond calmly to someone who’s yelling.
“I want to talk, but I need us both to stay calm first.”
Myth or Fact: Anger can be helpful.
Fact. Anger can motivate change, set boundaries, and show when something isn’t okay.
Describe one choice you could make that would lead to a calmer outcome.
Choosing to walk away for a minute instead of arguing.
How can identifying your triggers help you manage anger?
Identifying triggers helps you notice patterns so you can prepare, use coping skills sooner, and avoid reacting impulsively.
Create a 3-step anger management plan.
1) Recognize the trigger
2) Use a coping skill (e.g., deep breathing),
3) Talk it out or write it down.
How can you express anger without hurting others?
Use “I” statements, take a break, and choose respectful words.
Explain why anger is a normal emotion.
Anger is normal because everyone experiences it. It’s a natural reaction to feeling hurt, frustrated, threatened, or disrespected.
Explain how problem‑solving can reduce anger.
Problem‑solving helps you focus on solutions instead of the emotion, giving you more control and lowering frustration.