Physical or Mental Health
Physical
At today's figure skating competition Suzy won first place. Her best friend Lindsey did not do as well as she wanted to and is very upset. Suzy is proud of herself, but decides to talk about something other than figure skating on the drive home to cheer Lindsey up. Is this an example of good self-esteem or bragging?
Self-Esteem
Yesterday, Luke was really worried about his math test. He even had trouble sleeping! Now that his math test is over, Luke feels a lot better. Was Luke experiencing stress or anxiety?
Stress: It only lasted for a short time.
Look at picture 1. How do you think this person is feeling?
Possible answers: Scared, Shocked, etc.
True or False. Does having good mental health mean you are happy all the time?
False: Even people with good mental health are upset from time to time. That is a normal part of being human.
Timothy had a big fight with his mom last night. All morning he has not been able to focus on his school work so he decides to go speak to the guidance counsellor. Is this an example of physical or mental health?
Mental
Kayla and Kelsey had a big argument today and have not talked since. When Kayla showed Kelsey a picture she drew, Kelsey responded by saying, "that's not bad, but I could do better." Is this an example of good self-esteem or bragging?
Cindy hates speaking in front of her class. Today she found out that her next ELA assignment involves a group presentation. Ever since she heard the news, she has not been able to focus on anything else. She knows she will feel better when it is over and just wishes that she could get it over with today instead of having to worry about it until it happens. Is Cindy experiencing stress or anxiety?
Stress: She knows the cause and that it will go away.
Look at picture 2. How do you think this person is feeling?
Possible answers: Angry, frustrated, etc.
What are two strategies you can use to avoid flipping your lid when you are upset?
Possible answers: Take a deep breath, count to ten, go outside, walk away, talk to a friend, talk to a parent, work on an interest, focus on your strengths, etc.
When Rachel slipped on the ice, she chipped her tooth. Now she needs to go to the dentist to get it fixed. Is this an example of physical or mental health?
Physical
Tiffany has been in gymnastics all year and just learned how to do a cartwheel. She is so excited that all of her hard work is paying off. She can't wait to tell her best friends about her achievement. Is this an example of good self-esteem or bragging?
Self-esteem: It is normal to want to celebrate your accomplishments with your friends. It only becomes bragging when you try to make others feel badly by sharing your successes.
Mark and John were playing together and having a great time. Out of the blue, John started having a panic episode and felt extremely uncomfortable. Even when he calmed down, he still did not feel completely better. John explained to Mark that he has no idea the episode happened. Was John experiencing stress or anxiety?
Anxiety: He did not know the cause. It came out of the blue.
Look at picture 3. How do you think this person is feeling?
Possible answers: Proud, happy, etc.
What do we call an activity you like to do, even if you are not good at it?
Interests: In times when we are sad or upset and our mental health is in trouble, participating in one of your interests can make you feel better.
Joseph got so angry today that he flipped his lid. He tried to count to ten to calm down. He tried to take deep breaths to calm down. Nothing worked. He has not felt better since it happened this afternoon. Is this an example of physical or mental health?
Mental
Jennifer finished her socials studies test in ten minutes and ever since has been sitting at her desk sighing loudly. When the teacher finally asked her to stop because she was distracting other students Jennifer replied, "But Miss, I am so bored. What is taking everyone so long? That was such an easy test!" Is this an example of good self-esteem or bragging?
Jess has been the goalie on her soccer team every summer for the past five years. She always gets anxious before the season opener because she is worried her skills will have disappeared over the winter months. Is Jess experiencing stress or anxiety?
Stress: Although this issue keeps happening over a long period of time, Jess knows the cause.
Look at picture 4. How do you think this person is feeling?
What is the name of an activity/skill that you are good at?
A strength: Focussing on your strengths when you're upset can remind you just how wonderful and talented you are.
Denise can't stop thinking about when she got thrown off of her horse and hurt herself. Every time she closes her eyes, she remembers how scary it was. This fear is starting to take over her life. Is this an example of physical or mental health?
Stanley loves hockey but is not very good at it. He just started playing and often gets frustrated when things do not go as he planned. His best friend Sheila has offered to give him some tips after school if he wants. She has been playing for many years now and would like to pass on what she has learned from others from when she was just starting out. Is this an example of good self-esteem or bragging?
Self-esteem: Sheila is not trying to make Stanley feel bad because she has more experience than him. She is trying to use her experience to help him get better if he is interested.
Anxiety: Travis can not explain why he is feeling this way. Also, his doctor thinks medicine might help him which shows us it is a larger mental health problem.
Look at picture 5. How do you think this person is feeling?
Possible answers: Embarrassed, shy, etc.
When building your self-esteem, it's good to create "I" statements. For example, "I am kind," "I am responsible," "I try my best," etc. What is another, fancier name for an "I" statement?