STOP Skills
This skill helps you pause before reacting to strong emotions.
What is STOP?
This thinking error makes a problem seem much worse than it really is.
What is catastrophizing?
You use Opposite Action when your emotions do not match these.
What are the facts?
To reduce anger, you can change this by unclenching your hands and relaxing your chest.
What is body language?
This U.S. state is famous for the Grand Canyon.
What is Arizona?
The “S” in STOP stands for doing this first.
What is stop?
Catastrophizing often involves thinking in extremes or imagining this about the future.
What is the worst-case scenario?
The first step in Opposite Action is to do this with your emotion.
What is identify and name it?
Half-smiling and relaxing your facial muscles is a way to change this.
What is body chemistry or body tension?
This invention by the Wright brothers changed travel forever.
What is the airplane?
The “T” in STOP involves doing this before acting.
What is take a step back?
This happens when a small problem is “blown out of proportion.”
What is exaggeration?
If your emotion is not effective, this step involves thinking about your next behavior.
What is ask Wise Mind?
Doing paced breathing or running is a way to change your body chemistry and release this emotion.
What is anger?
This is the tallest mountain in the world.
What is Mount Everest?
Using STOP skills can prevent this type of reaction when emotions are high.
What is acting impulsively?
Catastrophizing can increase this physical feeling that often comes with fear or worry.
What is anxiety or stress?
Acting in a way opposite to your urges until your emotion changes is called doing this.
What is act all the way?
This step in Opposite Action involves imagining good reasons for the other person’s behavior.
What is perspective taking or empathy?
This body of water separates Saudi Arabia from Africa.
What is the Red Sea?
The “P” in STOP reminds you to do this for your mind and body.
What is proceed mindfully?
One way to reduce catastrophizing is to check these before reacting emotionally.
What are the facts?
For anger, imagining understanding and empathy for the other person is part of this type of Opposite Action.
What is all-the-way Opposite Action?
Opposite Action helps you act differently from these, which are urges your emotions create.
What are action urges?
This natural phenomenon causes water to rise and fall along the shore twice a day.
What is a tide?