Managing Intense Emotions for Middle School Students | Child Mind Institute

It is not uncommon for middle schoolers to experience their emotions very intensely. As high- lighted 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 youth to know that intense emotions and the urges that come with them are common and they do not last forever. Middle schoolers 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 this video.
• Everyone feels big and intense emotions sometimes.
• Everyone has urges that are caused by big, intense emotions. The key is riding out the urge until the feelings have lessened.
• Middle schoolers 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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