A situation or action that can lead to a negative emotional reaction.

Something that causes stress

The way you choose to respond to stressful feelings or emotions

This area of the brain is our alarm center. It is super helpful but isn’t good at telling the difference between real danger and perceived danger

Fight, flight and freeze

Sounds or smells, a certain place, a memory or a feeling

Getting enough sleep, spending time outside, movement and exercise, spending time with family and friends

Positive self talk, deep breathing, talking to a parent or friend, playing a video game, taking a break, checking in with you body

This area of the brain shuts down when we are stressed. It is also like our librarian and stores memories and important information.

Yelling, screaming, anger, aggression, demanding, controlling, defiance, deflecting, defensive, using mean words

Shutting down, becoming angry or anxious, aggression

Increased heart rate, headaches, belly pain, nervousness, irritability

Name calling, destroying property, avoiding the problem, hurting yourself, threatening others, aggression or violence

This area is the “thinking center.”

Running away, fidgeting, restlessness, procrastination, avoiding, unfocused, anxious, hyperactive, ignoring the situation

Become aware, create a plan, practice relaxation techniques, keep a journal

Changes at school, death of a loved one, divorce of your parents, beginning or ending of school, transitions

“This feeling is uncomfortable, but it will pass.”

This area is where emotions are made and it communicates with the pre-frontal cortex to create conscious feelings.

Shutting down, isolating, says “I don’t know” a lot, depressed, numb, unable to move, bored, helpless, zoned out, mind goes blank

Something that offends you, makes you uncomfortable, grosses you out or makes your angry

Meditation or deep breathing, using fidgets, taking a break from screens, go for a walk or be outside

A collection of skills, techniques, items and other suggestions that you can use as soon as you start to feel anxious or stressed

Helps us remember the important information stored in our hippocampus, shrink the amygdala, and grow our pre-frontal cortex

The area of the brain that begins the stress response.