Many of the techniques in this handout are designed to help you when you might be experiencing stress, overwhelm or anxiety. These states are caused when the brain and body perceive that it is potentially under threat or danger or if an experience is too overwhelming for our resources to handle.
Choose items that comfort or relax you – such as soft cushions, gentle lighting, a journal, music, orcalmingscents. What colours would you use in yourcalmspace? Pick shades that help you feel peaceful and relaxed.
Experiment withcalmingstrategies when you feelcalmand safe so they are easier to use when you are becoming stressed or anxious. Try mixing-and-matching different strategies. Notice which strategies work best for you, then make them yours.
Furthermore, visual representations like the one above help us fully grasp the concept of Calming Exterior Design Elements.
Put on the board Coping andCalmingSkills and ask group members to brainstorm techniques. You or a volunteer participant lists them on the board. Distribute the reproducible pages. Take turns reading aloud the Education portion. Allow time to complete the written Insight and Empowerment questions.
Pick 5 things you can see, 4 things you can touch...calmingtechnique that connects you with the present by exploring the five senses.
In this module we’ll explore some of these strategies, explaining how theyare used and whytheywork. As we will emphasize in this section, relaxation skills are best used in conjunction with other CBT skills and are most effective when practiced consistently.
