Coping Skills
Name one healthy way to manage stress
exercise, drawing, coloring any coping skill
Name an emotion that isn't anger.
Any emotion.
What is one characteristic of assertive communication?
Clearly expressing your thoughts, feelings, or needs while respecting others.
What is a trigger?
Something that contributes to an emotional or behavioral reaction.
Name one personal strength.
Any genuine strength.
What is one benefit for taking a time out during an argument
It gives you time to regulate before responding.
What emotion can sometimes hide underneath anger?
Hurt, fear, sadness, shame, embarrassment, etc.
Turn this into an “I” statement:
“You never listen to me.”
“I feel frustrated when I don't feel heard.”
Name one common trigger for anger or conflict.
Feeling disrespected, criticized, ignored, rejected, etc.
What's one warning sign that you're becoming overwhelmed?
Physical, emotional, or behavioral sign.
Name three coping skills you can use without leaving your home.
Deep breathing, journaling, grounding, stretching, music, etc.
Name two physical signs that you are becoming emotionally overwhelmed.
Tight muscles, racing heart, sweating, shaking, etc.
What's the difference between being aggressive and being assertive?
Aggression violates or dismisses others; assertiveness communicates needs respectfully.
What are the four parts of a basic trigger chain?
→ Trigger → thought → feeling → behavior.
What's the difference between a mistake and a pattern?
A mistake happens; a pattern repeatedly happens without meaningful change.
You're extremely angry and feel like you're about to explode. What's one thing you should do before confronting someone?
Create space and regulate yourself.
Why can identifying an emotion help you manage it?
It creates awareness and gives you more choices about how to respond.
Someone says something that makes you angry. What's one healthy response besides immediately arguing?
Pause, ask for clarification, take a break, or calmly state your concern.
Why is recognizing triggers early useful?
You have more opportunity to intervene before the reaction escalates.
What does “taking responsibility” mean?
Acknowledging your choices and their impact without necessarily taking responsibility for someone else's behavior.
Explain the difference between avoiding a problem and taking a healthy break from it.
Avoidance indefinitely ignores the problem; a healthy break creates space to return and address it.
What's the difference between having an emotion and acting on an emotion?
You can experience an emotion without automatically behaving according to it.
Why can listening be more important than preparing your response?
It helps you understand what the other person is actually saying rather than reacting to assumptions.
Someone criticizes you and you immediately think, “They don't respect me.” What part of the chain is that?
The thought/interpretation.
What's one behavior you can control even when you can't control another person's behavior?
Your response.