Managing Intense Emotions for High School Students | Child Mind Institute

It is not uncommon for teens to experience their emotions very intensely. As highlighted in the video, when emotions become intense, there is often an urge to do something connected with that feeling. Sometimes the urge might be to do something that ultimately makes them continue feeling overwhelmed or makes their problems bigger.
It’s important for teens to know that intense emotions and the urges that come with them are common and they do not last forever. Teens can ride out intense feelings and urges by utilizing their five senses and different activities to ground them in the present and help them tolerate how they feel. Waiting for the intensity to pass also allows for greater control in choosing what they do next.
Below is a summary of the KEY POINTS from the video.
• Everyone feels big and intense emotions sometimes.
• Everyone has urges to act that are caused by big, intense, and uncomfortable emotions. The key is riding out the urge and waiting for big feelings to lessen.
• Teens can ride the wave by utilizing their five senses (sight, sound, taste, touch, smell) and by engaging in healthy distracting activities and being active (e.g., taking a walk, talking with friends, reading, journaling).
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The California Healthy Minds, Thriving Kids Project is series of free, evidence-based video and print resources that caregivers and educators can use to teach their kids critical mental health and coping skills. The project was born of an innovative partnership between the state of California and the Child Mind Institute.
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