PAUSE vs PLAY
What does “hitting pause” mean during a conflict?
👉 Answer: Taking a break to regulate before reacting.
Name one reason people avoid difficult conversations.
👉 Answer: Fear of conflict, rejection, hurting feelings, getting in trouble.
What’s one feeling that might come up if a conversation doesn’t go well?
👉 Answer: Disappointment, sadness, anger, shame, frustration.
Why is emotional regulation important in difficult conversations?
👉 Answer: Helps us stay calm, think clearly, and communicate better.
Why might someone need to hit “play” again after pausing?
👉 Answer: To actually talk about the issue and resolve it.
How can avoiding conversations affect mental or emotional health?
👉 Answer: Builds anxiety, stress, resentment, emotional overload.
True or False: A conversation going badly means you failed.
👉 Answer: False.
Name one regulation skill you could use before a hard conversation.
👉 Answer: Deep breathing, grounding, movement, music, journaling.
Name one sign your body gives you that you might need to pause first.
👉 Answer: Fast heart rate, clenched jaw, shallow breathing, shaking, etc.
Fill in the blank: Avoidance might feel safer short-term, but _____ long-term.
👉 Answer: Makes things worse / increases stress / keeps problems stuck.
What’s one unhelpful thought people might have after a hard conversation?
👉 Answer: “I shouldn’t have said anything,” “It’s all my fault.”
What might happen if you try to talk while very dysregulated?
👉 Answer: Yelling, shutting down, saying things you don’t mean.
True or False: Pausing means avoiding the conversation forever.
👉 Answer: False.
Is avoiding difficult conversations always bad? Why or why not?
👉 Answer: No — sometimes it protects safety or allows time to regulate.
What’s one kind thing you could tell yourself afterward?
👉 Answer: “I tried,” “I was honest,” “That was hard but brave.”
Finish the sentence: “Regulation helps me respond instead of _____.”
👉 Answer: Reacting.