1. Chapter 7
Lesson 4

2. Did You Know
Once you can identify your emotions, you are prepared to manage your emotions in a healthy way.

3. Dealing with Emotions in Positive Ways
A. Negative ways of dealing with emotions do nothing to solve problems. These are a few negative ways of dealing with emotions:
1. Exaggerating emotions
2. Pretending emotions aren’t there
3. Intentionally hurting other people while expressing emotions

4. Dealing with Emotions in Positive Ways
B. These are some useful strategies for interpreting and responding to most emotions:
1. Look below the surface
2. Consider how your response will effect tomorrow
3. Don’t take action on a strong emotion
4. Use positive feeling
5. Seek help if negative feelings don’t go away

5. Managing Difficult Emotions
Strong emotions can be overwhelming
1. When you feel intense emotion building, recognize the feeling and manage it by taking slow, deep breaths.
2. You may want to get away from a difficult situation to compose your self.
3. You might be able to control your feelings by analyzing the situation that is causing them.

6. Managing Difficult Emotions
B. Defense mechanisms are mental processes that protect individuals from strong or stressful emotions.
1. repression, suppression, denial, and projection
2. provide a temporary escape from an unpleasant situation
3. may keep you from facing what’s really bothering you

7. Managing Difficult Emotions
C. To overcome fear, analyze the situation and talk with someone you trust. Fear is healthy and natural.
D. When you feel guilty, try to identify the underlying source and admit your mistake. Be realistic: remember that some situations are not in your control

8. Managing Difficult Emotions
E. When you feel angry, try to identify the underlying source and address it. These strategies can help you come with anger:
1. Do something to relax
2. Rechannel your energy
3. Talk to someone you trust
4. Get some physical activity

9. Discussion Question
Which strategy do you find most helpful for coping with anger?