Coping Strategies: introduction

Section role: supports the 'Building the Coping Toolkit' section by formally presenting the four categories of coping skills and the Feelings Thermometer after students share their group findings. Slides: (1) Title — 'Building Your Coping Toolkit: Strategies for Stress & Anxiety'; (2) What is Stress? — bullets: recap 'Stressor' vs. 'Stress Response' from Section 1, acknowledge common physical signs (clenched jaws, racing heart, brain fog); (3) Four Categories of Coping Skills — bullets: overview of Relaxation, Distraction, Movement, and Thinking Skills as healthy, sustainable approaches; (4) Relaxation Strategies — bullets: definition, examples (deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation), physiological benefits (calming the nervous system); (5) Distraction & Movement Strategies — bullets: definitions, examples (music, reading, exercise, stretching), how they shift focus and release tension; (6) Thinking Skills Strategies — bullets: definition, examples (reframing thoughts, positive affirmations), how they challenge negative patterns; (7) The Feelings Thermometer — visual representation, bullets: how to gauge stress levels, when to apply different tools; (8) Beyond 'Quick Fixes' — bullets: address 'Quick Fixes' like avoidance or lashing out (from student discussions), explain why they often worsen anxiety; (9) Connect to Action — sets up Section 4 by encouraging students to think about how these tools can be used in their own lives. Closing slide: 'Which coping skill feels most accessible to you right now?'

Lara from Teachy