Fact Or Fiction
Triggers!
Reasons for attending therapy?
Name that feeling/experience
Coping skill Example
100
What I talk about with my therapist stays between us.
Fact
*Unless you are at risk of harming yourself or others
*Or if there is disclosure of child or elderly abuse
100
What is a trigger?
Something that sparks an emotional or behavioral response
100
Is this a reason?
I keep blowing up at my family and friends. I feel irritated all the time and can't stop taking it out on them.
Yes.
Although I may appear angry, I am feeling stressed and overwhelmed and don't know how to communicate this or manage these feelings. I can work on this with a therapist.
100
Someone close to me passed away, and I can't stop thinking about them.
Grief
Longing
Sadness
Loneliness
100
Movement
-jumping jacks
-stretches
-wall push ups
-sit ups
-walking
200
During therapy, you have to talk about all of your feelings and lay on a couch behind the therapist.
Fiction!
There are different kinds of therapy, and you aren't required to talk.
At STC wellness we use art, outdoor time, walking, writing, and Somatic (body-based interventions)
200
Give two examples of triggers.
Someone yelling at me
Loud noises/bright lights
Someone entering personal space without consent
A friend or family member ignores me
200
I am struggling to stay focused at school. I keep losing assignments, forgetting due dates, and get distracted talking to peers in class.
Yes.
Struggling with focus is a part of many mental health challenges, including ADHD.
A therapist can help you learn different tools and skills to stay organized and focused so you can stay on track with your goals.
200
My thoughts are going fast, my hands and legs are shaky, I am sweating and my heart is racing.
Anxiety
Panic
Worry
200
Art
-drawing
-painting
-sculpting
-collage/vision boarding
300
1 in 7 teens in the US have a mental health condition
Fact! It is more common than you think.
Getting help to manage mental health is an option, and therapy can give you tools to help with future challenges.
300
Why is it important to know my triggers?
So I can better control my reactions to keep myself and others safe.
So I can avoid people or places that may trigger me, leading to negative consequences.
300
I have a hard time sleeping. I find myself taking forever to fall asleep. I can't stop thinking about what I did wrong that day and all of the things I have to do tomorrow.
Yes.
Sleep issues are a major reason people attend therapy. It often is a symptom of a mental health challenge like anxiety, PTSD, stress, or depression. Therapy is available to address these challenges and help you find ways to manage thoughts and emotions that keep you awake at night.
300
My mind is quiet, my body is comfortable, and I am breathing normally.
Relaxed
Calm
At ease
300
breathing
- snake breathing (SSSS)
-box breathing
-visual breathing (birthday cake, flowers)
-deep breathing
400
My therapist is going to judge me
Fiction.
Our job is not to judge, just to support! Therapy is a judgment-free safe space where you can share anything on your mind.
There's even a chance that what you share is something similar to what we have heard before and helped others with.
400
What is a healthy way to respond to a trigger?
Remove yourself from the situation (walk away)
Count to 10 before thinking about the next steps
Call a friend or family member to vent
Listen to music
Move your body (walk, run, push ups, weight lift)
400
I am spending a lot of time alone and don't want to hang out with friends. I am sleeping more than usual, feeling down or empty, and struggling to take care of my basic needs (showering, brushing teeth, etc). Getting out of bed in the morning is a big struggle.
Yes.
These sound like some depressive symptoms. Therapy can be used to help you get back to how you were feeling before this so you can maintain healthy relationships, work towards personal goals, and care for yourself.
400
I feel a surge of adrenaline to either run away or defend myself. My heart is pounding, I am sweating, my muscles are tight, and there are butterflies in my stomach.
Fear
Dangerous situation
Fight or Flight
400
Sensory/mindfullness
-mint activity
-guided meditation
-body scan
-smelling sense (lotion)
500
Therapy means there is something wrong with me and I am weak.
Fiction!
Asking for help takes strength and courage. Life has roadbumps and therapy is here to help you navigate them.
Even Giannis Antetokounmpo works with mental health professionals to manage game-related anxiety
500
How will therapy help me manage my triggers?
Help you identify your triggers through tracking physical reactions and thought patterns
Teach skills to regulate emotions
Help you communicate your emotions to others in healthy ways to get help or prevent impulsive reactions
500
I am currently involved in court due to law violations, and I'm adjusting to new rules, meeting new people (HSW, lawyer, social workers, etc), and trying to avoid what got me charged so I don't have to go through all of this again.
Yes.
Involvement in the justice system is stressful and often comes with pressure from others to keep from reoffending. Therapy is a space where you can explore these feelings, learn different skills to manage emotions, identify healthy and unhealthy relationships, and learn more about what you need to be successful in life.
500
I have a hard time focusing, and I am feeling jumpy and paranoid. I may be experiencing thoughts and feelings related to a very scary situation that happened in the past, and I'm finding it hard to come back to the present moment.
Trauma response
Flashback
500
grounding
-5,4,3,2,1
-rainbow
-step outside?