NAME THE FEELING
You finished a difficult assignment successfully.
Proud / happy
Your stomach feels tight before presenting.
Trigger/body signal: nervousness
Asking an adult for help when uncomfortable.
Expected
Name one strategy for calming down when frustrated.
Deep breathing, counting, positive self-talk, etc.
Instead of saying “I hate this,” what could you say?
“This is frustrating.”
Your braces are bothering your mouth during class.
Annoyed / uncomfortable
Your braces feel uncomfortable and you keep touching them.
Trigger: physical discomfort
Blurting out thoughts repeatedly during class.
Unexpected
What can you do if your braces are bothering you?
Tell parent/orthodontist, use wax, communicate appropriately
Instead of blurting out intrusive thoughts repeatedly, what could you do?
Write it down, use coping strategy, talk privately to adult
You keep thinking about wanting your braces off immediately.
Frustrated / impatient
You keep thinking, “I need these braces off NOW.”
Thought trigger / intrusive thought
Using coping strategies when frustrated.
Expected
You keep having intrusive thoughts during class. What can help?
Redirect thoughts, grounding strategy, coping skill, break
Instead of focusing only on discomfort, what is a healthier thought?
“This feeling won’t last forever.”
A teacher tells you “not right now” when you ask something important.
Disappointed / upset
Your body feels tense and you start blurting things out in class.
Trigger/body signal: stress/frustration
Talking about using tools to remove braces yourself.
Unexpected and unsafe
You feel like blurting out upsetting thoughts repeatedly.
Pause, regulate, use replacement thoughts, ask for support
Instead of discussing unsafe ways to remove braces, what could you do?
Ask orthodontist questions, express concerns appropriately
You are stuck thinking about something uncomfortable and can’t focus on classwork.
Overwhelmed / anxious / frustrated
You notice your thoughts keep returning to unhealthy ways to get braces removed faster.
Trigger: frustration/impatience/intrusive thoughts
Ignoring oral hygiene because you want braces removed sooner.
Unexpected and unhealthy
You feel overwhelmed and start thinking about unhealthy ways to get braces removed faster.
Use coping strategy + communicate concern safely to trusted adult/orthodontist
Instead of neglecting oral hygiene because you want braces removed sooner, what is the better choice and likely outcome?
Maintain hygiene and follow treatment plan → healthier teeth and braces removed safely