UNDERSTANDING AND EXPRESSING EMOTIONS

 What is an emotion?  A feeling produced in response to a life event  Emotional health is the way a person experiences and deals with feelings  Experiencing a wide range of emotions is normal. Even unpleasant emotions can be healthy

TEENS AND EMOTIONS  Both social and physical changes affect teens’ emotions  Emotional changes during this stage in life are healthy and normal, even though they can be confusing  Hormones affect teens’ emotions  Hormones are chemicals that help control how the body grows and functions

 All emotions- even unpleasant ones- can be a healthy part of life.  Expressing them correctly is important to healthy emotional and mental health to you and those around you  One way to understand your emotions is to learn what situations are likely to cause specific emotions.  Situations, people, and events that cause a person to feel an emotion are called triggers

HEALTHY EMOTIONAL EXPRESSION  Communicating your emotions to others:  Helps you express your emotions  Helps you feel like you are not alone  Helps others get to know you and understand your feelings  Helps you and a person you had a conflict with, resolve the conflict

UNHEALTHY WAYS TO COMMUNICATE  Kicking and screaming like a little kid  Not listening  Breaking things, throwing things or vandalizing

HEALTHY WAYS TO COMMUNICATE  Speak calmly and clearly  Think before you talk  Watch your body language  Remember to be a good listener too!

BODY LANGUAGE  Body language is expressing emotions with the face, hand and posture  Listening to other people is a major part of communication  A good listener:  Helps other people communicate by encouraging them to express emotion  Shows that are listening by using active listening, and using eye contact

CREATIVE EXPRESSION OF EMOTIONS  Expressing emotions is one way of letting unpleasant emotions go  Crying, playing music, drawing, listening to music, making sculptures, painting, writing, dancing, acting, making films, watch a movie, play sports, and laughing

WAYS OF COPING WITH EMOTIONS  Have good self-esteem  Take time to think  Take care of yourself

 Self-esteem- is a measure of how much you value, respect and feel confident about yourself  High self-esteem: confident and happy with yourself  Low self esteem- helpless, full of self, doubt, easily overwhelmed by problems  Improve your self-esteem by finding activities in which you can be successful

 Taking time out from a situation can  Help you look closer at it  Help you react in a positive way  Give you time to cool down  Positive self-talk: thinking about the good parts of a bad situation

 Take care of yourself-  If your overall physical, mental and emotional, and social health is stable, then you will be better equipped to deal with unpleasant situations  Exercise  Get enough sleep  Form supportive relationships with friends and family  Have someone to talk to  Think positive