Wild Feelings
When a cat arches its back and fluffs its tail, it’s showing this emotion.
What is fear (or being startled)?
This slow-moving animal teaches us that sometimes it’s okay to take life at your own pace.
What is a sloth?
This kind of thought shows up uninvited and tells you things like “You’ll mess up for sure.”
What is an anxious or intrusive thought?
What do you call a sad cup of coffee?
What is depresso?
This five-word grounding skill uses your senses to stay present.
What is the 5-4-3-2-1 skill?
Like a turtle hiding in its shell, some people do this when they feel overwhelmed.
What is withdrawing (or retreating)?
Elephants comfort each other by touching trunks, showing this healthy coping behavior.
What is connection (or empathy)?
When you catch a thought that isn’t true and replace it with one that is, you’re doing this skill.
What is reframing (or being your brain’s boss)?
Why did the cookie go to therapy?
What is because it felt crumby?
Laughing, stretching, or wiggling your toes are all ways to do this.
What is release tension?
A dog wagging its tail is showing this emotion.
What is happiness or excitement?
Horses calm down through rhythmic movement and snorting- similar to this human coping skill.
What is deep breathing (or grounding)?
This kind of thought says “always” and “never” — and is almost always wrong.
What is all-or-nothing thinking or black-and-white-thinking?
Why did the horse make a great group leader?
What is because it kept its emotions in a stable place.
A “lion thought” might roar, “I have to be in control!” — that’s this kind of thought and it wants you to be able to do this.
What is a protect yourself or assert boundaries?
This animal’s ability to camouflage is like how people sometimes hide their emotions.
What is a chameleon?
A cat purring can give people this type of support if the person is upset or sad.
What is comfort or safety
When you talk back to your critical, worried, or controlling thoughts like a superhero with good intentions, you’re using this power.
What is positive self-talk?
Why did the cat practice deep breathing?
What is to stay purrfectly calm?
A “wise owl” thought helps you pause and do this before reacting.
What is think (or reflect)?
When you feel “like a bear coming out of hibernation,” you might be this emotion.
What is grumpy or tired?
When a lion is startled, it might roar or use its teeth. When a mouse is scared, it might run away. When an opossum gets frightened, it might collapse and not do anything. These are all examples of these types of responses to stressful situations.
What is fight flight or freeze?
When you act like a detective and look for real evidence against your worried or anxious thoughts, you’re doing this CBT skill.
What is challenging thoughts (or checking the facts)?
Why don’t cats ever play poker?
What is because they’re afraid of cheetahs?
Doing this grounding activity helps you stay in the present moment instead of worrying about the past or future.
What is mindfulness?