Health Readings - Aiden Chan P2 - PDF

‭Health Readings - Aiden Chan P2‬ ‭Dimensions of Health‬ ‭ ealthy behavior is engaging in activities that are mentally and emotionally healthy. Being healthy isn’t‬ H ‭the same as just not being ill or injured. It’s a state of overall well-being that incl...

‭Health Readings - Aiden Chan P2‬ ‭Dimensions of Health‬ ‭ ealthy behavior is engaging in activities that are mentally and emotionally healthy. Being healthy isn’t‬ H ‭the same as just not being ill or injured. It’s a state of overall well-being that includes many different‬ ‭dimensions, not just how a person’s body feels and functions.‬ ‭ hysical Health‬ P ‭Physical health has to do with how the body feels and works. When a person has good physical health the‬ ‭body feels well and strong, and all the parts of the body work the way they should.‬ ‭ Be physically active each day.‬ ‭ Eat foods that provide good nutrition.‬ ‭ Get enough sleep.‬ ‭ Wear a safety belt when riding in a car or other vehicle.‬ ‭ Wear sunscreen.‬ ‭ Brush and floss your teeth.‬ ‭ Stay away from tobacco, alcohol and other drugs.‬ ‭ Get regular medical checkups.)‬ ‭ ental/Emotional Health‬ M ‭Mental or emotional health has to do with how people think, feel and act as they cope with life. A person‬ ‭with good emotional health can feel, express and respond to a wide range of emotions in healthy ways‬ ‭and share those emotions with others. They have ways to manage stress and deal with difficult situations.‬ ‭They are able to cope with anger, sadness, worry and other upsetting feelings and the ups and downs of‬ ‭life without hurting themselves or others.‬ ‭ Learn about healthy relationships.‬ ‭ Communicate clearly with others.‬ ‭ Express feelings in healthy ways.‬ ‭ Get support for troublesome feelings.‬ ‭ Manage stress in healthy ways.‬ ‭ Learn skills to make healthy decisions.‬ ‭ ocial Health‬ S ‭Social health has to do with how people build relationships with others.‬ ‭People with good social health can connect with others. They can communicate effectively and contribute‬ ‭to family, friends and the wider community.‬ ‭ Meet new people.‬ ‭ Be nice to family and friends.‬ ‭ Build a support network.‬ ‭ Participate in extracurricular activities.‬ ‭ Show concern and respect for others.‬ ‭ Volunteer in your community.‬ ‭ piritual Health‬ S ‭Spiritual health has to do with how people find meaning and purpose in their lives. People with good‬ ‭spiritual health have a sense of something bigger than themselves and their own day-to-day lives. They‬ ‭follow their values and beliefs.‬ ‭ Take time to think about what gives your life meaning and purpose.‬ ‭ Follow family, religious or personal values.‬ ‭ Act in ways that reflect your values.‬ ‭ he dimensions of health are interrelated. A behavior that strengthens one dimension might have positive‬ T ‭effects on another dimension as well. For example, people who join a sports team can improve their‬ ‭physical health by being physically active. But their social health may also improve because they’ll be‬ ‭meeting and interacting with other people on the team. Getting regular physical activity can help manage‬ ‭stress and elevate a person’s mood, which will improve emotional health. And being part of a team may‬ ‭give them a sense of meaning or purpose, which is part of spiritual health. Each dimension of health can‬ ‭affect the others, both positively and negatively.‬ ‭ ll of the dimensions of health contribute to your overall health. When you improve one dimension of‬ A ‭health, other dimensions are often improved as well. In the same way, when one dimension of health‬ ‭becomes weak, the other dimensions are also negatively affected.‬ ‭ he choices you make and the actions you take every day to keep your body strong, express your‬ T ‭feelings, manage stress, solve problems, connect with others and follow your beliefs and values are what‬ ‭will help you maintain and improve your physical, emotional, social and spiritual health.‬ ‭Expressing Emotions in Healthy Ways‬ ‭Many different feelings are part of the human experience. One of the characteristics of emotionally‬ ‭healthy people is that they can experience a wide range of emotions and express these emotions in healthy‬ ‭ways. It’s natural to feel happy when you accomplish a goal or have something positive happen in your‬ ‭life. It’s natural to feel sad when you lose something or someone you care about. It’s natural to feel angry‬ ‭or hurt if you feel you or people you love have been treated unfairly. Feeling afraid can be a clue that‬ ‭you’re in danger or need to be careful. Throughout your life, different events and situations will trigger‬ ‭different emotional responses. Whether you experience an emotion as pleasant or unpleasant, good or‬ ‭difficult, identifying those emotions through words can help you and others better understand your‬ ‭feelings. Feelings themselves aren’t good or bad, healthy or unhealthy. It’s how people choose to respond‬ ‭to and express their feelings that matters and plays a role in emotional health. Some feelings, such as‬ ‭happiness, excitement or gratitude, are easy for most people to experience. Other feelings, such as anger,‬ ‭fear or sadness, may be more difficult for many people to experience. Sometimes people label feelings as‬ ‭“good” or “bad,” but all of these different feelings are part of human experience.‬ ‭How do people express their emotions? What kinds of clues help you know what a person is feeling?‬ ‭ Identify the feelings. This is the first step in expressing your feelings in healthy ways. You need‬ ‭to become aware of your feelings and know what they are so you can take the best steps to‬ ‭respond and express them to others.‬  ‭ Find someone to talk to about how you feel. Remember that one trait of emotionally healthy‬ ‭people is that they ask for help when they need it. Sometimes all you need is someone to listen to‬ ‭how you feel. Talking about your feelings with someone you trust can help you understand why‬ ‭you’re having the feelings and figure out what to do to express them in a way that’s constructive‬ ‭and healthy.‬ ‭ Be physically active. Moving your body and doing something active can help you work off your‬ ‭feelings. Take a walk, run, work out, jump up and down, or do any physical activity you enjoy.‬ ‭You might also punch a pillow or other soft, safe object.‬ ‭ Keep a journal. Writing about your feelings can help you understand and express them. You‬ ‭don’t have to show anyone what you write. You could also write a poem or song, create a dance,‬ ‭paint or draw a picture, or do any other creative action.‬ ‭ Let yourself cry. Sometimes strong feelings can make you want to cry. Crying can help relieve‬ ‭the feelings, and most people feel better after they cry. Find a safe or private place, or be with a‬ ‭person you trust, and let yourself cry if you need to.‬ ‭ Take a break and cool down. Sometimes you need to step away from the situation that’s causing‬ ‭the strong feelings. Especially when you feel angry or upset, it can be good to walk away until‬ ‭you feel calmer. Breathe deeply, tense and relax your muscles, or close your eyes and visualize a‬ ‭calm and peaceful place.‬ ‭ Try to keep a sense of humor. Humor can be a great way to change how you feel. Think of‬ ‭something funny that makes you laugh, or share a joke with a friend. Sometimes you can even‬ ‭find the humor in the situation that’s causing the strong feelings.‬ ‭ ometimes people ignore their feelings or keep the feelings bottled up. This may be particularly true if‬ S ‭they find a particular emotion difficult to experience. They might isolate themselves or not talk to anyone‬ ‭about how they’re Feeling. Sometimes people express their feelings in destructive or even violent ways‬ ‭that can hurt others. They might lash out at someone verbally or physically, or criticize or blame others‬ ‭for the way they feel. Sometimes people do things that hurt themselves in response to strong feelings.‬ ‭They might eat to feel better, drink alcohol or use other drugs.‬ ‭ xpressing difficult emotions in unhealthy ways can be hurtful to yourself or others, either right away or‬ E ‭over time. This doesn’t mean that you can’t or won’t do these things once in a while, especially if the‬ ‭difficult emotions are very strong. But you can learn ways to express or respond to your feelings that will‬ ‭be healthier options.‬ ‭ veryone experiences emotions, and sometimes those feelings can be difficult or even overwhelming.‬ E ‭You can’t always control how you feel, and it’s actually a sign of positive emotional health to have a wide‬ ‭range of emotions. But you always have a choice about how you express or respond to your emotions.‬ ‭You can choose to do this in healthy or unhealthy ways. Being aware of your feelings and finding ways to‬ ‭express them that won’t hurt yourself or others is part of being a responsible and emotionally healthy‬ ‭person.‬ ‭Coping With Loss and Grief‬ ‭ rief is the emotional pain people feel in response to the death of a loved one or some other serious loss.‬ G ‭Feelings of grief are a normal response to losing someone or something important.‬ ‭ lmost everyone experiences grief at some point in life. It’s important to understand the grieving process‬ A ‭so that you’ll know more about how people cope. This understanding may be helpful the next time you‬ ‭experience a loss, and can help you support a friend who’s grieving. You may have heard people talk‬ ‭about grief as a process or something people go through in stages. This is because there are many‬ ‭different feelings a person might experience when grieving, and how a person feels or acts in response to‬ ‭grief can change over time. It’s important to understand that everyone experiences grief in their own way.‬ ‭Some of the most common feelings people may experience when they’re grieving include:‬ ‭‬ ‭Shock, disbelief, denial. When people experience a loss or death, sometimes it's difficult for them‬ ‭to understand or accept that it's happened. They might be in shock, feel confused or express‬ ‭disbelief. They might act as though nothing bad has happened.‬ ‭‬ ‭Sadness, pain, guilt, despair. After the initial shock, many people have strong emotions. Deep‬ ‭sadness or emotional pain sets in over the loss. Sometimes people feel guilty because their friend‬ ‭or loved one died and they're still alive. They may regret things they did or didn't do. They may‬ ‭worry that it's wrong for them to experience happiness, or wonder if they'll ever feel happy again.‬ ‭‬ ‭Questions, anger, bargaining. People often feel a need to make sense of the loss, or seek a cause‬ ‭or logical explanation for it. They may have questions about why it had to happen, or fears and‬ ‭worries about the future. Sometimes anger comes up. They may blame themselves or others for‬ ‭the loss, or take out their intense feelings on the people who are still around. Sometimes they‬ ‭wonder what they could have done to prevent the loss. They may even hope that certain actions or‬ ‭promises could magically undo it.‬ ‭‬ ‭Extended sadness, mourning. After the more intense feelings have faded a bit, people often go‬ ‭through a time of ongoing sadness or even depression. They realize that the loss is final. They‬ ‭may feel empty or hopeless. As they mourn, they may focus on memories of the past or the things‬ ‭they miss. Crying, wanting to be alone, not sleeping or sleeping too much, feeling lonely, being‬ ‭tired or not having much energy are all things people may go through during this time.‬ ‭‬ ‭Acceptance, adjustment, recovery. Over time, the pain of the loss doesn't hurt quite as much, or‬ ‭doesn't hurt all the time any more. People are more able to accept the loss and begin to adjust to‬ ‭life after it. They get back into a routine and can find joy in life again. They may begin to think‬ ‭about the future in positive ways. It doesn't mean that the person who died or the loss is forgotten.‬ ‭It means that the person going through the grieving process has figured out a way to go on with‬ ‭their life.‬ ‭But, again, everyone experiences grief in their own way. People don’t necessarily experience a series of‬ ‭feelings in a set order. A person might bounce back and forth between different types of feelings as they‬ ‭work through the grieving process. Let’s read more about these different reactions to grief.‬ ‭ e are all unique in how we handle our feelings when grieving. Some people may do some of the‬ W ‭following:‬ ‭‬ ‭Cry a lot‬ ‭‬ ‭Yell, scream or hit something‬ ‭‬ ‭Ignore the feelings or pretend the loss hasn’t happened‬ ‭‬ ‭Talk to people about the loss‬ ‭‬ ‭Spend time alone or avoid people‬  ‭ ‬ ‭Hold a memorial or other type of ceremony‬ ‭‬ ‭Escape by using alcohol or other drugs (NOT a healthy way to respond)‬ ‭ ll of these different feelings or reactions are normal and natural when a person suffers a loss.‬ A ‭ he most important thing is for people to find healthy ways to cope as they go through the grieving‬ T ‭process such as:‬ ‭ Take it one day at a time. Grief is different for each person. Don’t put pressure on yourself to‬ ‭feel a certain way or grieve only for a set amount of time.‬ ‭ Be gentle with yourself. Let yourself feel what you feel, and do what you need to do to work‬ ‭through things. Cry when you need to. Spend time alone if that feels right. Seek out friends if‬ ‭having company helps. Give yourself permission to grieve in your own way.‬ ‭ Get enough sleep. Being rested can help you cope with the strong feelings that come with grief.‬ ‭ Try to keep a normal routine. Doing the things you usually do may seem strange after a loss. But‬ ‭it can help you stay connected to the other things and people that you value in your life.‬ ‭ Take care of your health. Moving your body by being physically active can help relieve stress‬ ‭and keep you fit. Eat a healthy diet to help keep your body strong. Continuing to take care of your‬ ‭body and your health can help you cope with the feelings and the changes that a loss brings.‬ ‭ Find creative ways to express your feelings. You might write in a journal, draw or paint, write a‬ ‭song or poem, dance or play music. These things can help you work through your grief and can‬ ‭also be a way to remember or honor the person you’ve lost.‬ ‭ Share your memories about the person who died. Talking about the qualities of the person and‬ ‭the things you shared together is an important part of many funerals or memorial services.‬ ‭Sharing and listening to others share their memories can be comforting. It can help bring people‬ ‭together to express their grief and mourn their loss.‬ ‭ Talk about your feelings. It’s important to get the support you need when you’re grieving. When‬ ‭feelings are strong it can help to talk to someone you trust. It also can be helpful to talk to a‬ ‭counselor or therapist if the feelings are causing problems in your life.‬ ‭ nhealthy ways to deal with grief can cause harm to the self or others or have negative consequences.‬ U ‭Bottling up strong feelings, expressing anger in a violent way or using alcohol or other drugs to escape‬ ‭are all unhealthy coping strategies that have the potential to cause serious problems. Healthy ways to cope‬ ‭with grief allow people to work through the grieving process and express their feelings without hurting‬ ‭themselves or others. Remember that everyone goes through grief in their own way. It might be healthy‬ ‭for one person to talk about the loss, while another person might need to spend a lot of time alone.‬ ‭Finding healthy ways to cope with grief can keep the feelings from overwhelming people and causing‬ ‭them to do things that could hurt themselves or someone else.‬ I‭ t can be difficult to know what to say to someone who’s experienced the death of a loved one or some‬ ‭other serious loss. Some people are nervous or scared they’ll say the wrong thing, so they don’t say‬ ‭anything. However, people who are grieving need support. Here are some ways to show support and what‬ ‭to say to a person who’s grieving:‬ ‭ Acknowledge the situation. For example, you could say, “I heard that your brother died.” Using‬ ‭the word died will show that you understand what happened and are open to talking about the‬ ‭situation.‬  ‭ Express your concern. For example, you could say, “I’m so sorry that this happened,” or “I’ve‬ ‭been thinking about you and your family.”‬ ‭ Be real and don’t hide your feelings. It’s OK to feel awkward or unsure. The important thing is‬ ‭to communicate your support. For example, you could say, “I really don’t know what to say, but I‬ ‭want you to know that I care.”‬ ‭ Offer your support. For example, ask, “Is there anything I can do for you?” or say, “I’m here if‬ ‭you need my help or want to talk.”‬ ‭ ealing with grief isn’t easy. It’s important to know that grief is normal, to know some of the feelings a‬ D ‭person can expect when going through the grieving process, and to know some strategies for coping with‬ ‭grief in healthy ways, as well as some ways you can support others who are grieving.‬ ‭Goal Setting for Emotional Health‬ ‭ ne of the skills for developing positive emotional health is setting goals. Setting realistic short-term and‬ O ‭long-term goals and working to achieve them contributes to your emotional health. You can even use this‬ ‭skill to help strengthen the other skills that promote emotional health. For example, you could choose an‬ ‭emotional health skill you want to improve, set a goal around this skill, and figure out steps that will‬ ‭enable you to reach that goal.‬ ‭ hen you set a goal, there are certain steps you can follow and questions you can ask to help you‬ W ‭succeed.‬ ‭. What is your goal? First, you need to decide what your goal is. What emotional health skill do you‬ 1 ‭want to work on, and what is a goal related to that skill? It’s important to set a goal that is specific,‬ ‭realistic and measurable.‬ ‭Being specific means you state exactly what your goal is. For example, if you want to deal with‬ ‭stress better, you might set a goal to practice deep breathing for 1 minute every day for the next‬ ‭week. If you wanted to build a better relationship with a family member, you might set a goal to‬ ‭have a positive conversation with that person at least 3 times a week for 15 minutes at a time. A‬ ‭vague goal, such as “deal with stress better,” or “have a better relationship with my mother” is too‬ ‭hard to reach because you won’t know exactly what you mean or when you’ve reached it. It’s also‬ ‭important that your goal be realistic—something you can actually do—and measurable, so you’ll‬ ‭know when and if you’ve achieved it.‬ ‭. What will be the benefits of reaching your goal? It’s important to know what benefits you expect to get‬ 2 ‭from reaching your goal. Looking ahead to the benefits you’ll get and noticing the benefits along the way‬ ‭helps keep you motivated. Having more frequent communication will help you build a better relationship,‬ ‭have less stress or fewer conflicts, and will give you a chance to practice and improve your‬ ‭communication skills.‬ ‭. Why is this goal important to you? Knowing why the goal matters to you is also important. You want to‬ 3 ‭pick a goal you care about so you’ll be willing to work hard to reach it.‬  ‭ ommunicating well with your mom or another adult family member will help you understand‬ C ‭each other better, which will mean less stress and fewer conflicts.‬ ‭. What must you do to reach this goal? The next step is to make your plan for meeting your goal. These‬ 4 ‭are all the things you will need to do to reach your goal. Remembering the skills you learned for effective‬ ‭communication might be the first thing you need to do. Setting a regular time to talk that works for both‬ ‭of you will help you make sure you find time to work on the goal. Thinking of things to talk about and‬ ‭planning what you might say are other important steps.‬ ‭You might also want to develop a timeline for your goal. You might spend the first week writing‬ ‭down things to talk about and practicing your communication skills and what you want to say.‬ ‭The next week you might start by having a 5-minute conversation on 2 or 3 days. Then over the‬ ‭next few weeks you can increase the time you talk until you reach at least 15 minutes on at least 3‬ ‭days a week.‬ ‭. How will you start? How you will begin your plan is very important. Taking that first step is sometimes‬ 5 ‭the hardest, but once you get started you’re on your way.‬ ‭A good first step for this goal might be to ask a few friends what they talk to their parents about‬ ‭and write down some possible topics.‬ ‭. Who can help? Think of people who can help you reach your goal. Support from family, friends and‬ 6 ‭others can keep you motivated and moving toward your goal.‬ ‭The goal of building better communication with your mom is probably something you can do on‬ ‭your own. But you might ask another relative, your health teacher or a sibling to help you think of‬ ‭things to say or the best way to approach your mom to have these conversations. You could also‬ ‭ask a friend to text or call to check in with you about whether you’ve met your goal for the day‬ ‭yet.‬ ‭. What could get in the way? There are always barriers or things that can get in the way of a goal. If you‬ 7 ‭think about these ahead of time as part of your plan, you’ll be better prepared to deal with them when they‬ ‭come up.‬ ‭Things that might get in the way of this goal might include either you or your mom feeling‬ ‭stressed or being busy or distracted. Some strategies that could help might be to remind yourself‬ ‭of why this goal is important to you and finding a regular time that both of you can agree on and‬ ‭commit to. You might also try taking a walk together so you can focus on the conversation with‬ ‭fewer distractions. If you sometimes feel anxious or nervous about talking, you could practice a‬ ‭stress-management technique such as deep breathing beforehand.‬ ‭. Need to adjust your plan? You’ll want to evaluate how things are going and make changes to your plan‬ 8 ‭as you need to. As you work on your goal you’ll learn a lot about what works for you and can adjust your‬ ‭plan to help you succeed.‬ ‭For example, on a really busy day, you could text instead of talking in person or, if you find that‬ ‭you don’t always know what to say, you can plan some topics ahead of time or ask what your‬ ‭mom would like to talk about.‬ ‭ etting and working toward a goal to improve your emotional health can help you feel successful, more‬ S ‭self-confident, and good about the success you achieve. It’s also a way of taking responsibility and‬ ‭working to improve an aspect of your life that’s within your control.‬ ‭Exploring Emotional Health‬ ‭Emotional health is the ability to feel and express a wide range of emotions in healthy ways.‬ ‭ emember that mental and emotional health has to do with how a person thinks, feels and acts as they‬ R ‭cope with life. A person with good emotional health can feel, express and respond to a wide range of‬ ‭emotions in healthy ways and share those emotions with others. Your emotional health affects how you‬ ‭respond to feelings,‬ ‭relate to others, manage stress and make decisions. Emotional health isn’t about always feeling happy. It‬ ‭includes being able to cope with difficult, troublesome or upsetting feelings and the ups and downs of life‬ ‭without hurting yourself or others. Good emotional health enables people to enjoy life and survive pain,‬ ‭disappointment and sadness without losing a sense of well-being and an underlying belief in their own‬ ‭worth.‬ ‭ eople with good emotional health accept who they are. They appreciate the things that make them‬ P ‭unique. They’re realistic about their strengths and challenges. They like themselves, feel confident about‬ ‭using their skills and understand their limits. They have high self-esteem, which means they have‬ ‭confidence in themselves and value their unique qualities. They also have self-respect, which means they‬ ‭want to keep themselves healthy and safe, and believe they are worthy of respect from others.‬ ‭ eople with good emotional health build healthy relationships. They connect with others at home, school‬ P ‭and work and in the community and treat them with respect. They have people they care about, trust and‬ ‭can depend on, who care about, trust and depend on them in return. They listen to others and share their‬ ‭thoughts, feelings, joys and problems.‬ ‭ eople with good emotional health show care and concern for others. They respect and accept other‬ P ‭people without judging them. They try to be kind and help when they can. They are able to show‬ ‭empathy, or put themselves in another person’s place.‬ ‭ eople with good emotional health know how to manage stress in healthy ways. They avoid or reduce‬ P ‭stress in their lives when they can. They can see the positive side of changes in their lives and manage the‬ ‭stress these changes might bring. They find ways to deal with stress that don’t hurt themselves or others.‬ ‭ eople with good emotional health know how to resolve conflicts in healthy ways. They understand that‬ P ‭conflicts are normal—it’s how you deal with conflicts that matters. They try to see the other person’s side‬ ‭and take responsibility for their part in a conflict. They know how to manage their anger and work with‬ ‭others to resolve disagreements or problems.‬ ‭ eople with good emotional health are optimistic. They tend to choose the positive over the negative.‬ P ‭They can replace negative thoughts with positive ones and overall have a good feeling about their lives‬ ‭and a belief that things will work out for the best.‬ ‭ eople with good emotional health have a growth mindset. This means they enjoy learning new things,‬ P ‭even about something they already know or can do well. They believe that skills and abilities can be‬ ‭improved. They don’t give up when they fail at something. They can take credit for their successes and‬ ‭learn from their mistakes.‬ ‭ eople with good emotional health take responsibility for their personal choices and actions. They don’t‬ P ‭blame others for their problems and accept responsibility for their mistakes. They also do their best to‬ ‭take care of the things that they’re expected to do. Other people can depend on them to follow through.‬ ‭They can set goals and work to achieve them. They believe they can affect what happens in their lives and‬ ‭can change when they need to.‬ ‭ eople with good emotional health ask for help when they need it. They know that it’s OK to ask for help.‬ P ‭They have people they can talk to about problems or difficult feelings. They are able to reach out to others‬ ‭for support.‬ ‭ aving these characteristics of positive emotional health helps people live happy, healthy lives and gives‬ H ‭them the strength and skills to cope when they are faced with life’s challenges and stresses.‬ ‭How emotional health can affect the other Dimensions of Health:‬ ‭Physical Health‬ ‭ Liking and feeling good about themselves can motivate people to take care of their bodies.‬ ‭ Being able to honestly assess strengths and weaknesses can help people see when they need to‬ ‭make changes to improve or maintain physical health.‬ ‭ Being able to cope with change will make a person more likely to implement and stick with‬ ‭habits that promote physical health.‬ ‭ Having skills for resolving conflict and managing stress can help protect the body from physical‬ ‭harm.‬ ‭Social Health‬ ‭ Sharing feelings in respectful ways strengthens connections with others.‬ ‭ Building healthy relationships helps a person develop a social network.‬ ‭ Taking responsibility for choices and actions earns the respect of others.‬ ‭ Knowing how to resolve conflicts helps people get along in groups.‬ ‭Spiritual Health‬ ‭ Having an optimistic attitude helps people feel a positive connection to the world around them.‬ ‭ Caring about others can inspire a person to look beyond the self.‬ ‭ Knowing oneself can be a basis for positive change and personal growth.‬ ‭ rosocial behaviors are the things you do to get along with and help others. The prefix pro- means to be‬ P ‭“for” something. So to be prosocial means that something contributes to the welfare of a group in a‬ ‭positive way.‬ ‭ ehaving in prosocial ways helps you build supportive and respectful connections with others. There are‬ B ‭many behaviors that might be considered prosocial. For example, taking responsibility for your own‬ ‭choices and actions can build trust between people, contribute to healthy relationships, and minimize‬ ‭stress and conflicts.‬ ‭ rosocial behaviors are ways to help maintain or improve your social health. And many of them are very‬ P ‭similar to the characteristics of positive emotional health. This is another way that the dimensions of‬ ‭health are related. Positive emotional health contributes to social health and vice versa. Prosocial‬ ‭behaviors can help people and groups—including our class—function at their best.‬ ‭ obody has perfect emotional health—there’s always room for improvement. Positive emotional health‬ N ‭requires not only knowing your strengths, but also accepting or working to improve the areas that‬ ‭challenge you. There will always be ups and downs, good things and difficult things that happen in life.‬ ‭But you can take steps to improve and maintain your emotional health.‬ ‭ kills for Effective Communication‬ S ‭Communication refers to how people send and receive information. What are some ways you‬ ‭communicate with the important people in your life?‬ I‭ -messages allow you to communicate your emotions clearly and in a healthy way.‬ ‭Using the word “I” helps you take responsibility for your emotions. I-messages don’t blame or attack the‬ ‭other person.‬ ‭ ommunication can be verbal, or with words, such as when people talk to each other in person or by‬ C ‭phone. It can be written, such as when people write a letter or send a text. You can use I-messages in both‬ ‭verbal and written communication. Sometimes communication is nonverbal, or without words. The‬ ‭expression on a person’s face, hand gestures or how the person holds their body can all send a message.‬ ‭ ow people communicate with each other is a very important part of their relationships. When people can‬ H ‭communicate effectively they can share their thoughts and feelings with others in healthy ways.‬ ‭I-messages are one example of this, but there are many things you can do to improve how you‬ ‭communicate.‬ I‭ t’s important for clear communication to be sure your body language and tone of voice match the‬ ‭message you want to send. Body language is the nonverbal communication you send with your body. It‬ ‭includes gestures, how you are standing or sitting, how you move your body and your facial expressions.‬ ‭ nother aspect of communication is the style in which you speak.‬ A ‭Assertive communication means you state feelings, needs and opinions clearly and confidently, with‬ ‭respect for both yourself and the other person. Speaking clearly and using I-messages with confident body‬ ‭language is part of this communication style.‬ ‭Passive communication avoids expressing true feelings, needs or opinions. It often leads to agreeing to do‬ ‭something you don’t really want to do. Speaking softly or unsurely and using uncertain or withdrawn‬ ‭body language can be part of this communication style.‬ ‭ ggressive communication is harsh and shares feelings, needs or opinions without thinking about how it‬ A ‭will affect others. It can include criticism or blame, be loud, and use tense or angry body language that‬ ‭can create or encourage conflict between people.‬ ‭ here are many communication skills you can use when you’re speaking to someone that can help you‬ T ‭express your thoughts and feelings clearly and build healthy relationships.‬ ‭‬ ‭Use I-messages.‬ ‭‬ ‭Be assertive, not passive or aggressive. This helps you say what you want or need while being‬ ‭respectful of the other person. You’ve had a chance to practice assertive communication too.‬ ‭‬ ‭Be sure your body language and tone of voice match the message you intend to send. What you‬ ‭say nonverbally is important too.‬ ‭‬ ‭Invite the other person to respond. This is part of the give and take of communicating with‬ ‭another person. When you’re open to hearing and considering the other person’s point of view it‬ ‭helps build trust and respect in your relationship. The person who’s been listening to you speak‬ ‭then knows that you also care about their opinions, feelings and ideas. Inviting a response can‬ ‭also help the other person do the same for you when they are the one speaking.‬ ‭ istening is as important to good communication as speaking clearly and effectively. When you’re‬ L ‭listening to someone be sure to:‬ ‭‬ ‭Pay attention and show that you’re listening. This means you focus on the person who’s talking to‬ ‭you and don’t interrupt. Sometimes it’s hard to pay attention because there are so many‬ ‭distractions. But giving someone your full attention when they are speaking is a great way to‬ ‭build good communication. Remember, too, that you communicate nonverbally when you’re‬ ‭listening, just as much as when you’re speaking.‬ ‭‬ ‭Acknowledge what the speaker said. This can be as simple as repeating the main point or saying,‬ ‭“Thanks for telling me that.” It’s a way to be sure the person feels heard, so they will be willing to‬ ‭listen to you in turn.‬ ‭‬ ‭Ask questions to clarify the message, if needed. It’s important to understand what someone has‬ ‭said if you want to have good communication. Asking questions about anything you didn’t‬ ‭understand or something you want to know more about is a way to be sure you really heard what‬ ‭the person wanted to say.‬ ‭ hen you know someone isn’t listening as you speak, you may think that they don’t consider what you‬ W ‭say to be important. It can make you feel ignored, uncomfortable or not respected. Practicing your own‬ ‭listening skills is a way to make sure you give others the same attention you’d like to receive when you’re‬ ‭communicating.‬ ‭ he last communication skill is to take turns speaking and listening. This is how people can exchange‬ T ‭information and ideas, share their feelings with each other and build healthy relationships. If you’re‬ ‭communicating with someone and find yourself practicing only one of these sets of skills, it means you’re‬ ‭either speaking too much or just listening without communicating in return. If one person does all of the‬ ‭talking or all of the listening, a relationship isn’t balanced. You may have heard the saying‬ ‭“Communication is a two-way street.” This means that you really haven’t fully communicated until you‬ ‭ now that the other person heard and understood what you said, and you’ve heard and understood what‬ k ‭the other person wants to say in response.‬ ‭Social Media and Emotional Health‬ ‭ nderstanding different influences on your emotional health can help you strengthen the positive ones‬ U ‭and resist the negative ones. To analyze an influence, you want to think about how much of an effect it‬ ‭has on you and whether that effect supports or has a negative impact on these different aspects of your‬ ‭emotional health.‬ ‭Think about your day-to-day life. How many different forms of social media, games or other ways of‬ ‭being online do you use or interact with?‬ ‭Social Media and Emotional Health Traits‬ ‭Accept Who You Are‬ ‭Positive‬ ‭Negative‬ ‭ Meet like-minded friends through online games.‬ ‭ May compare self to others.‬ ‭ Offers a way to express the things that make‬ ‭ May feel pressure to look or act a certain way‬ ‭you unique.‬ ‭because that’s what peers appear to be doing.‬ ‭ Can put your best self forward through the‬ ‭ May only share good things in an attempt to be‬ ‭things you post.‬ ‭more “perfect” than you are.‬ ‭ Helps you discover new interests.‬ ‭2. Express feelings in healthy ways‬ ‭ ositive‬ P ‭ egative‬ N ‭ Can share how you feel even if you’re not with‬ ‭ Cant always guess someone’s tone or true‬ ‭someone.‬ ‭feelings from a text or online message.‬ ‭ Can use emojis to show how you’re feeling. ‬ ‭ Might respond with an angry comment before‬ ‭Can express difficult feelings in a safer‬ ‭you think it through.‬ ‭environment.‬ ‭ People may not know what you’re really feeling‬ ‭or believe you if they can’t see you.‬ ‭ Writing LOL is not the same as actually‬ ‭laughing out loud or sharing a laugh with‬ ‭someone.‬ ‭3. Build healthy relationships‬ ‭Positive‬ ‭Negative‬ ‭ Can communicate with people who are far‬ ‭ Misunderstandings can spread.‬ ‭away.‬ ‭ People may say mean or thoughtless things.‬ ‭ Provides a way to stay in touch.‬ ‭ People spend so much time online they don’t‬ ‭ Can be a way to get to know more about‬ ‭connect with their families as much.‬ ‭someone before you meet in person.‬  ‭ Can make it easier to make plans with a whole‬ ‭group.‬ ‭4. Show care and concern for others‬ ‭Positive‬ ‭Negative‬ ‭ You can like and compliment your friends’‬ ‭ People may say mean things online that they‬ ‭posts.‬ ‭wouldn’t share in person.‬ ‭ You can offer support if someone texts or posts‬ ‭ Cyberbullying and other forms of online‬ ‭that they feel down.‬ ‭harassment can occur.‬ ‭ You can learn about different people and what‬ ‭ People can be so distracted by their phones that‬ ‭they care about.‬ ‭they ignore the people they’re with.‬ ‭ You can easily post comments about or‬ ‭ Your message of concern might be‬ ‭contribute to social causes you believe.‬ ‭misunderstood without tone or voice and‬ ‭nonverbal cues.‬ ‭5. Manage stress in healthy ways‬ ‭Positive‬ ‭Negative‬ ‭ Can post about a difficult day to blow off steam.‬ ‭ Trying to keep up with everything everyone is‬ ‭ Can get support from friends if you’re feeling‬ ‭posting can be stressful.‬ ‭sad or upset.‬ ‭ Can add pressure around how you look, who you‬ ‭ Can get advance notice of important events.‬ ‭know, etc.‬ ‭ Can use it to escape the stress of real life.‬ ‭ Hoaxes and other disturbing content can be‬ ‭scary and stressful.‬ ‭6. Deal with conflict in healthy ways‬ ‭Positive‬ ‭Negative‬ ‭ Online games can help you learn to work with‬ ‭ It can be harder to work things out if you can’t‬ ‭others to solve problems.‬ ‭see the other person’s nonverbal communication,‬ ‭ You can be exposed to different opinions and‬ ‭such as facial expression or body language.‬ ‭points of view.‬ ‭ People may say thoughtless or mean things‬ ‭online that cause conflicts.‬ ‭7. Be optimistic.‬ ‭ ositive‬ P ‭ egative‬ N ‭ Positive news and personal stories can make‬ ‭ Negative news might make you worry or feel‬ ‭you feel good about other people and what they’re‬ ‭down about what’s going on in the world.‬ ‭doing.‬ ‭ Unkind or angry comments can make a situation‬ ‭ Social media pages can offer insights and tips for‬ ‭seem more negative than it is. People may‬ ‭keeping a positive attitude.‬ ‭criticize others for having a positive attitude.‬ ‭ Building and maintaining connections with‬ ‭others can help you feel good.‬ ‭8. Have a growth mindset‬  ‭Positive:‬ ‭Negative:‬ ‭ You can learn from other people’s experiences‬ ‭ Sometimes people use online forums to criticize‬ ‭through the things they post.‬ ‭new or challenging ideas.‬ ‭ Games help you learn problem solving when‬ ‭ If you don’t do well playing an online game,‬ ‭you lose or see what doesn’t work.‬ ‭you might give up or feel down on yourself.‬ ‭ You can find lots of information on topics‬ ‭ Seeing people making fun of others for failures‬ ‭you’re interested in.‬ ‭or mistakes can make you afraid to try new things.‬ ‭. Take Responsibility for Your Choices and‬ 9 ‭Actions‬ ‭Positive:‬ ‭Negative:‬ ‭ You can speak up when someone is being mean‬ ‭ You can’t control what other people post to your‬ ‭or unfair to someone else online.‬ ‭feed or say about you on theirs.‬ ‭ You have control over what you post about‬ ‭ Can use it as a distraction that keeps you from‬ ‭yourself.‬ ‭getting things done.‬ ‭ You can make a decision to never post anything‬ ‭mean, untrue or embarrassing about others.‬ ‭ Sometimes people use online forums to blame‬ ‭others for their problems.‬ ‭10. Ask for help when you need it‬ ‭Positive:‬ ‭Negative:‬ ‭ You can find resources online, including chat‬ ‭ If you post you need help and nobody answers,‬ ‭lines for getting help with certain issues.‬ ‭you might feel even more alone.‬ ‭ You can get support from a wide network of‬ ‭ You can’t always trust the advice you find‬ ‭friends online.‬ ‭online.‬ ‭ ocial media, online gaming and other forms of technology play a role in many young people’s lives. You‬ S ‭can use what you’ve been learning to help make sure these things contribute to your emotional health in‬ ‭positive ways.‬ ‭Understanding Mental Health Disorders‬ ‭ ealth is the way your body feels and works. Being healthy means more than just not being sick. When‬ H ‭your body is healthy, you feel good. You are able to go to school, hang out with friends, and do the things‬ ‭you need to do every day.‬ ‭ healthy mind lets you learn, play, and understand others. Mental health means having good ways to‬ A ‭deal with your feelings and how to enjoy life, even when things are hard. Having a healthy mind and body‬ ‭are both very important. Everyone has good days and bad days. A bad day doesn’t mean you have a‬ ‭mental illness, but you can still improve your mental health.‬ ‭ mental health disorder is a health condition that changes a person’s thinking, moods and/or‬ A ‭behavior in ways that cause distress or impair function. THis may be diagnosed by a mental health‬ ‭ rofessional when a person’s thinking, moods or behavior are changed in ways that seriously‬ p ‭interfere with their ability to enjoy life, relate to others, overcome challenges or make healthy‬ ‭choices. It’s important to realize that mental health disorders can be treated. Studies show that most‬ ‭people with mental health disorders can get better with treatment, and many can recover completely.‬ ‭Think ABout the Mental Health Stigmas…‬ ‭ ave you ever heard unkind words used to describe someone you care about? Have you been‬ H ‭called names because of the way you look or something else about you?‬ ‭ abels can hurt. They can make you feel separate from everyone else. Even if you know they are‬ L ‭untrue, labels can make you feel bad. Sometimes people who are labeled also get bullied or‬ ‭treated unfairly. When people don’t understand how life is in someone else’s shoes, they can‬ ‭make unfair and untrue assumptions.‬ ‭ abels and unfair treatment are results of what we call stigma. Stigma comes from negative and‬ L ‭incorrect beliefs, or stereotypes, about groups of people. Fear of being left out or picked on‬ ‭because of who you are is a part of stigma. The effects of stigma can make you feel sad, ashamed‬ ‭or alone.‬ ‭ eople with mental health challenges sometimes experience stigma. They get called “crazy” or‬ P ‭“mental” or “emo.” These labels are based on stereotypes, not on fact. You can help break down‬ ‭stigma by learning and sharing the truth about mental health.‬ ‭ ometimes people don’t seek help for mental health disorders because of some of the myths in our‬ S ‭society surrounding these disorders.‬ ‭‬ ‭Mental health disorders are more widespread than most people realize.‬ ‭‬ ‭Young adults experience depression and anxiety disorders at a higher rate than the‬ ‭general population.‬ ‭‬ ‭Mental health disorders can be treated.‬ ‭‬ ‭Sometimes the negative ideas and attitudes society holds about mental health disorders‬ ‭can keep people from getting help.‬ ‭‬ ‭Most people with mental health disorders are not violent or dangerous.‬ ‭‬ ‭People with mental health disorders deserve respect and compassion.‬ ‭ any people don’t realize how common mental health disorders actually are. They may have formed‬ M ‭negative opinions based on things they’ve heard from others or seen portrayed in the media. When people‬ ‭believe these myths they may not realize that a person with a mental health disorder deserves respect,‬ ‭care and treatment just as someone with a physical medical condition would. They might discriminate or‬ ‭make fun of people who seek help for mental health problems.‬ ‭ eople who are suffering from mental health disorders may not want to acknowledge their symptoms‬ P ‭or get help if they accept these negative and largely untrue ideas. They may fear being made fun of,‬ ‭discriminated against or treated unfairly if they let others know about their condition.‬ ‭ ou might not realize it, but you probably know someone who has a mental illness. It could be a friend,‬ Y ‭family member, classmate, neighbor, or teacher. Lots of famous people have had struggles with mental‬ ‭ ealth, like President Abraham Lincoln and actress Demi Lovato. People are made up of many different‬ h ‭things. Everyone has different likes and dislikes, talents, thoughts, and bodies. A mental illness is not the‬ ‭only thing to know about a person. Remember that with help from friends and family, people with mental‬ ‭health challenges can be okay and live a full life.‬ ‭ hat would you do if your friend got sick with the flu or broke his arm? You would probably want to‬ W ‭help him get better. What would you do if you found out your friend was having mental health‬ ‭challenges? Or that your friend had a family member with a mental health challenge? You would probably‬ ‭still want to help him feel better. People with mental health challenges need help from their friends and‬ ‭family just as much as if they had a broken bone or sore throat.‬ ‭Optimists VS Pessimists‬ ‭ ptimists are people who have a generally positive outlook on life. They tend to see the good side of most‬ O ‭situations and expect things to work out for the best. Pessimists are people who have a more negative‬ ‭outlook. They tend to focus more on the problems or challenges of a situation and expect more-negative‬ ‭outcomes.‬ ‭ eing optimistic, or choosing the positive over the negative, is one of the characteristics of emotionally‬ B ‭healthy people. Many experts who study human psychology believe that optimism contributes greatly to a‬ ‭person’s emotional health.‬ ‭ n the other hand, a pessimistic outlook is sometimes more realistic. Life can be challenging and bad‬ O ‭things do happen to people. Pessimism can protect people from disappointment—if they don’t expect‬ ‭something good to happen, they won’t feel as bad if it doesn’t.‬ I‭ n general, optimism can better help people keep their emotional balance in tough times. Being optimistic‬ ‭doesn’t mean a person has to refuse to look at or acknowledge negative events, but optimists tend to‬ ‭recover or bounce back more quickly from difficult circumstances. Even when a situation or event doesn’t‬ ‭go the way they wanted, optimists believe that, however things turn out, they’ll be able to handle it.‬ ‭ et’s look at some potentially stressful or challenging situations teens might face and explore what a‬ L ‭pessimistic versus an optimistic view might be for each one.‬ ‭ Your family is going to move to another state.‬ ‭(Pessimistic response: I’ll never see my friends again. It can’t be as nice as where we live now.)‬ ‭(Optimistic response: I’ll have a chance to make new friends. There may be some different and‬ ‭fun things to do there.)‬ ‭ You have to work the same weekend your friends are going to a concert.‬ ‭(Pessimistic response: I’ll miss out on all the fun. It isn’t fair.)‬ ‭(Optimistic response: I’m glad I have the job and I’ll get some extra money by working. We can‬ ‭do something together next weekend.)‬ ‭ You want to try out for the basketball team but it’s very competitive.‬ ‭(Pessimistic response: There’s no way I’ll make the team. The other people trying out are sure to‬ ‭be better‬ ‭players than me.)‬  (‭ Optimistic response: If I don’t make it this time, I’ll practice hard and try again next year.‬ ‭Having the best players will help the team win.)‬ ‭ he pessimistic response tends to focus on the problem or negative aspects of the event, and can‬ T ‭contribute to feelings of loss, unhappiness or being left out. The optimistic response looks for solutions or‬ ‭ways to reframe the situation to create more pleasant or positive feelings. Taking an optimistic view helps‬ ‭people accept themselves and the situation and take more responsibility for how they feel and what they‬ ‭can do about the problem.‬ ‭ ocus on the positive.‬ F ‭This doesn’t mean you just ignore challenges or problems or pretend nothing bad is happening. But it‬ ‭does mean you look for solutions and what good might come from a situation.‬ ‭ hink of problems as temporary and specific.‬ T ‭Optimists tend to see specific causes for their problems rather than making far-reaching general‬ ‭assumptions. For example, after doing poorly on a test, an optimist might say, “I just didn’t study hard‬ ‭enough. I need to spend more time preparing for the next test,” rather than, “I’m just no good at taking‬ ‭tests,” or “I’ll never understand that subject well.”‬ ‭ ee yourself as the cause of your success.‬ S ‭Optimists give themselves credit when they do something well or something good happens to them. They‬ ‭see their achievements as the result of their own qualities, talents or hard work. For example, an optimist‬ ‭might say, “I enjoyed myself at the party because I was friendly and made an effort to talk to some new‬ ‭people,” versus “I had a good time because everybody was so nice.”‬ ‭ iew mistakes as a chance to learn.‬ V ‭Optimists don’t blame themselves for setbacks or spend a lot of time being down on themselves when‬ ‭they make a mistake. Instead they view mistakes as a chance to learn something and do better in the‬ ‭future.‬ ‭ eep a sense of humor.‬ K ‭Optimists can laugh at themselves or think of something lighthearted to say that can ease a difficult‬ ‭situation. Finding the humor in a situation can help you keep a positive outlook when faced with a‬ ‭problem.‬ ‭ tay healthy.‬ S ‭Eating healthy foods, being physically active and learning to manage stress can all contribute to feeling‬ ‭more positive about your life.‬ ‭ pend time around positive people.‬ S ‭Optimism tends to be contagious. Being around other people who can see the potential benefits or good‬ ‭things that can come from a challenge or difficult situation can help you shift your own focus.‬ ‭ se positive self-talk. Self-talk is all of the ideas you think to yourself or things you say to yourself over‬ U ‭the course of the day. You’re going to be learning more about how to use positive self-talk to support‬ ‭having an optimistic attitude in just a few minutes.‬ I‭ magine a person who’s always down on themselves. What kinds of negative things might that person‬ ‭think or say?‬ ‭These things represent different negative patterns of thinking and negative self-talk. Remember that‬ ‭self-talk is all of the ideas you think to yourself and things you say to yourself. Negative thought patterns‬ ‭can lead to feelings of being discouraged, upset or unhappy. They’re problematic because the thoughts‬ ‭and beliefs they cause are often unrealistic or mistaken. Negative patterns of thinking can add to stress,‬ ‭which can affect your physical health, and may cause conflicts with others. They can also be defenses that‬ ‭keep a person from seeing what’s really going on in a situation and having to change or accept personal‬ ‭responsibility for their choices and behaviors. We’re going to examine some common negative thought‬ ‭patterns and think about how you could counter them with more positive self-talk.‬ ‭ xpecting the worst.‬ E ‭Sometimes people predict or anticipate problems and difficulties before they happen. A person who does‬ ‭this all the time may be pleasantly surprised when something does go well, but expecting things to go‬ ‭badly keeps you in a pessimistic frame of mind and can sometimes even contribute to‬ ‭a negative outcome.‬ ‭ vergeneralizing.‬ O ‭To generalize means to make universal or broad assumptions based on certain evidence. When people‬ ‭overgeneralize, they use one example or only a little bit of evidence to draw conclusions that are often‬ ‭incorrect. For example, the person might see one mistake or setback as representing a never- ending cycle‬ ‭or pattern of defeat. When you hear people say, “I never...” or “It always...” they are Overgeneralizing.‬ ‭ laming others.‬ B ‭Sometimes people blame other people, the circumstances or the world in general for the things that‬ ‭happen to them. This can be a way to avoid taking any responsibility for the consequences of their own‬ ‭choices and actions. It can also keep a person from believing they can solve the problem or change the‬ ‭circumstances.‬ ‭ equiring perfection.‬ R ‭Sometimes people don’t allow themselves any room for error or making a mistake, which can cause a lot‬ ‭of stress and put a lot of pressure on them. It also isn’t realistic. Mistakes and misunderstandings do‬ ‭happen even when people are trying their best.‬ ‭ xaggerating.‬ E ‭Sometimes people exaggerate or magnify the importance of events or situations. This means they make‬ ‭something bigger than it really is. For example, having a misunderstanding with a friend doesn’t usually‬ ‭mean the friendship is over, but someone with this negative thought pattern may assume it does.‬ ‭Personalizing.‬ ‭ ith this negative thought pattern, people see themselves as the cause of a negative event for which they‬ W ‭were not actually responsible. It can also mean taking things personally that are not meant that way. For‬ ‭example, if someone waves at a friend at a crowded event but the friend doesn’t wave back, a person‬ ‭who’s personalizing would assume the friend is ignoring them or angry, when in fact the friend simply‬ ‭didn’t see the person wave.‬ ‭Building Healthy Relationships‬ ‭What does it mean to have a relationship with someone?‬ ‭ he relationships you have with other people affect your mental/emotional and social health. Remember‬ T ‭that one of the characteristics of positive emotional health is the ability to build healthy relationships with‬ ‭others.‬ ‭People begin to form relationships with their parents and siblings as soon as they’re born. As you get‬ ‭older, friends may become very important to you. You begin to have relationships with adults outside the‬ ‭home, such as teachers and coaches. You might start having romantic or dating relationships. Some‬ ‭people have many different relationships with a wide circle of friends and acquaintances (people they‬ ‭know but not as well as friends). Others prefer to have only a few close friends. Some relationships are‬ ‭with people you talk to or see every day. You may also have relationships with people you talk to or see‬ ‭only once in a while.‬ ‭ elationships change throughout your life. Some relationships you have your whole life, some may last‬ R ‭only a short time. But all of the relationships you have can have an effect on your emotional and social‬ ‭health.‬ ‭How do people who have a healthy relationship treat each other and communicate with each other?‬ ‭ Honesty and trust‬ ‭ Clear communication‬ ‭ Acceptance and respect‬ ‭ Empathy‬ ‭ Showing care and concern‬ ‭ Sharing experiences‬ ‭ Getting and giving support‬ ‭ Ability to work out differences‬ ‭ Personal responsibility‬ ‭How might these qualities be slightly different in different types of relationships?‬ ‭ relationship between a parent and child is naturally going to be different in some ways from one‬ A ‭between friends who are the same age. Different issues and feelings may arise in different types of‬ ‭relationships. But, overall, these qualities apply and are signs that a relationship is healthy and supportive‬ ‭of both people involved. You have the power to create healthier relationships by paying attention and‬ ‭being willing to give to other people the things you want for yourself, such as acceptance, respect and‬ ‭support. By being honest, listening carefully, sharing your thoughts and feelings in healthy ways, showing‬ c‭ are and concern, admitting when you’re wrong, and working to solve problems and resolve conflicts‬ ‭when they come up, you show other people that they’re an important part of your life. You might notice‬ ‭some similarities between this list and the qualities of a healthy relationship.‬ ‭How can having healthy relationships contribute to positive emotional health?‬ ‭ It’s easier to accept yourself and feel optimistic when you have people in your life who accept‬ ‭you and treat you with care and respect.‬ ‭ Relationships give you a chance to practice resolving conflicts and communicating your‬ ‭thoughts and feelings in healthy ways.‬ ‭ They also give you an opportunity to show care and concern for others and take responsibility‬ ‭for your personal choices and actions.‬ ‭ Having healthy relationships can help you manage stress and cope with change.‬ ‭ Relationships give you people to turn to when you need help or advice, and also provide a‬ ‭chance to give support to others.‬ ‭Managing Anger‬ ‭ s with other intense emotions, it’s the way people express their anger that can be either positive and‬ A ‭healthy, or negative and unhealthy. So it’s important to learn to recognize when you or someone else is‬ ‭feeling angry and to have ways to manage that anger to find helpful, constructive and nonviolent solutions‬ ‭to the issues or situations that have caused it. Both ignoring or repressing anger and expressing it in‬ ‭violent ways can lead to problems with a person’s health and relationships. This is why it’s so important‬ ‭to have appropriate and healthy ways to express anger.‬ I‭ mpulsive behaviors are behaviors you do quickly, in the heat of the moment, without thinking about the‬ ‭consequences of your actions. Reacting on impulse can lead to hasty decisions that you later regret.‬ ‭Impulsive behavior usually occurs in response to an event that causes strong emotions. When you practice‬ ‭self-control you don’t let your emotions or impulses drive your behavior. You stop yourself from doing‬ ‭things that might be risky or cause problems.‬ ‭ ecause anger can be such a powerful emotion, it’s good to plan ahead and practice how to manage it‬ B ‭before you’re in a situation that makes you angry. This can help you practice self-control and keep you‬ ‭from reacting impulsively in ways that can lead to problems.‬ ‭These are some things you can do to stay in control and avoid acting impulsively:‬  ‭‬ N ‭ otice the impulse. What’s your emotion urging you to say or do? If you start to notice your‬ ‭impulses right when they happen, you’ll get better at controlling them.‬ ‭‬ ‭Stop and think before you act. Consider what the consequences of the impulsive behavior might‬ ‭be. Is there a better way to respond that will be healthier or cause fewer problems?‬ ‭‬ ‭Count to 10. Keep counting if you have to. Do some deep breathing. Delaying your response can‬ ‭often help you control it better.‬ ‭‬ ‭Walk away. Get away from the person or the situation until you’re able to cool down and think‬ ‭clearly.‬ ‭‬ ‭Don’t give up. It takes time to change behaviors. Becoming aware of your impulses when you‬ ‭have them is a good first step. Keep working on these techniques each time you feel an urge to act‬ ‭impulsively.‬ ‭There are many ways to deal with anger constructively:‬ ‭‬ ‭Minimize triggers. Identifying the kinds of things that trigger an anger response in you can help‬ ‭you either avoid those situations or be more prepared for the strong feelings they create.‬ ‭‬ ‭Delay your response. Use the strategies for controlling impulses to keep from acting out in the‬ ‭moment. Taking time to calm down will allow you to manage your anger responsibly and‬ ‭constructively.‬ ‭‬ ‭Use stress-management techniques to help you relax. Try deep breathing, progressive muscle‬ ‭relaxation or guided imagery to help yourself calm down.‬ ‭‬ ‭Express how you feel in healthy ways. Sometimes the best way to deal with anger is to talk to the‬ ‭person with whom you’re angry. Take your anger to the source rather than spreading rumors,‬ ‭gossiping or telling other people how angry you are.‬ ‭○‬ ‭Choose a good time and place. You may want to deal with the situation immediately, but‬ ‭often it’s best to wait until you’ve cooled down and can think more clearly. Choosing a‬ ‭time that works for the other person too will help ensure that they will really listen to‬ ‭what you have to say.‬ ‭○‬ ‭Use I-messages. “I feel really angry about...” “I was hurt when...” Take responsibility for‬ ‭how you’re feeling, without blaming or accusing.‬ ‭○‬ ‭Be assertive. State your view clearly and calmly. You don’t want to add to the problem by‬ ‭acting aggressively. Keep your tone of voice and body language calm and reasonable.‬ ‭○‬ ‭Focus on solving the problem. At some point, you need to stop expressing your anger and‬ ‭move toward a solution. You might ask: “What can we do so this doesn’t happen again?”‬ ‭or “How can we make this up to each other?”‬ ‭‬ ‭Get support. Talk through your feelings about the situation with someone you trust. Remember to‬ ‭use I-messages and to focus on what you’re feeling, not what the person you’re angry with did or‬ ‭didn’t do.‬ ‭Here are some things you can do if someone is angry with you:‬ ‭‬ ‭Don’t mirror the anger. For example, if the other person is yelling, speak quietly. If the‬ ‭other person is gesturing a lot, keep your body and hands still. Responding in an opposite‬ ‭way like this is a technique that can help calm things down. If you shout or gesture like the‬ ‭other person is doing, it can add to the tension and anger they are feeling.‬ ‭‬ ‭Acknowledge the other person’s anger. Doing this doesn’t mean you’re admitting guilt or‬ ‭necessarily agreeing with their view of the situation. For example, you can say, “I can see‬  ‭that you’re angry with me.” This lets the person feel heard and understood.‬ ‭‬ F ‭ ocus on solving the problem. Don’t move to this before the person has had a chance to‬ ‭express their feelings. But, at some point after acknowledging how the person is feeling,‬ ‭guide your conversation toward a solution. You might ask, “What can we do so this doesn’t‬ ‭happen again?” or “How can we make this up to each other?”‬ ‭‬ ‭If you feel unsafe, walk away or get help. If the person is expressing anger in healthy and‬ ‭constructive ways, it’s an opportunity to build your relationship. But if the person is behaving‬ ‭in aggressive, destructive or violent ways, or if you start to feel unsafe for any reason, it’s‬ ‭best to leave the situation. Get help if you feel you’re in immediate danger.‬ ‭‬ ‭Change the relationship. If the problem can’t be solved by talking about the situation and‬ ‭expressing your feelings in healthy ways, you may need to limit the time you spend with‬ ‭this person or modify your expectations of the relationship to avoid each other’s anger‬ ‭triggers. If the person is always angry with you, even though you’ve tried your best to‬ ‭address it, it may be time to end the relationship.‬ I‭ n any relationship, there will be times when the people involved may feel angry with each other.‬ ‭Anger can be a powerful emotion. When it isn’t managed or expressed in healthy ways, it can‬ ‭hurt your relationships with others. But using the strategies you’ve learned today can help you‬ ‭use the misunderstandings and situations that trigger anger as learning opportunities. When‬ ‭people can express their anger in appropriate and constructive ways, and can acknowledge‬ ‭another person’s anger without becoming defensive or angry in turn, it can help strengthen and‬ ‭build their relationship.‬ ‭ reventing Suicide‬ P ‭ early everyone feels worried or down at times. Teens in particular are going through many physical,‬ N ‭mental, emotional and social changes that can cause stress and difficult emotions. But anxiety and‬ ‭depression involve strong feelings that can affect every part of a person’s life and relationships.‬ ‭Major depression can also cause a person to feel hopeless or overwhelmed and to think about committing‬ ‭suicide, or the act of intentionally killing oneself. Talking about suicide can often be difficult or make‬ ‭people feel uncomfortable. But it’s much better to openly discuss tough topics such as suicide than to deal‬ ‭with this issue on your own or feel afraid for a friend and not know what to do. What you learn today‬ ‭could help save your own or a friend’s life.‬ ‭ uicide is an emotional topic. It is often kept secret or judged negatively. Because of this, there are often‬ S ‭misconceptions about suicide. Let’s see how many of these misconceptions you may have heard of or‬ ‭believed, and how many facts you know.‬ ‭Some Suicide Facts for Thought:‬ ‭‬ ‭Many people who commit suicide have given verbal clues or directly told someone else about‬ ‭their intentions. Comments about suicide—even if said casually or jokingly—should always be‬ ‭taken seriously.‬ ‭‬ ‭Not all teens who commit suicide want to die. Many suicidal people are unsure about dying, even‬ ‭though they are looking for a way to stop the pain or suffering they’re experiencing. Suicide isn’t‬ ‭really about stopping life, it’s about stopping pain. People who attempt or succeed in committing‬ ‭suicide never mean to end the important or good things in their lives or hurt the people they love‬ ‭and leave behind. They’re trying to end the emotional pain they’re in. They may share their‬ ‭intentions to test whether someone cares enough to stop them.‬  ‭‬ T ‭ eens who have ways to cope with difficult or troublesome feelings are less likely to commit‬ ‭suicide. Everyone has tough times or experiences difficult feelings that can cause stress or‬ ‭pressure. But people who know ways to help handle or cope with strong feelings are more likely‬ ‭to bounce back and stay balanced as they navigate the ups and downs of life. This makes them‬ ‭much less likely to harm themselves because they know that they can move through the difficult‬ ‭feelings and feel good again.‬ ‭‬ ‭It’s NOT a single bad thing that happens can lead to suicide. Suicide is often a result of ongoing‬ ‭depression and is a response to troublesome thoughts and feelings that have been happening for‬ ‭some time. There may be a “final straw” in terms of a bad event or circumstance that pushes a‬ ‭person with suicide thoughts to act, but hurting oneself is most often the result of many emotional‬ ‭health problems that have been building up over time, rather than a single issue or event.‬ ‭‬ ‭Talking about committing suicide will NOT make someone more likely to do it. Studies show‬ ‭that talking to people who are having thoughts of suicide does not push them to act or strengthen‬ ‭their intentions. Talking is much more likely to be the start of a person facing their problems and‬ ‭getting help.‬ ‭‬ ‭Suicide is a significant risk for teens. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young‬ ‭people ages 15 to 24 and among children ages 10 to 14.‬ ‭‬ ‭Giving away important personal possessions and withdrawing from family and friends are two‬ ‭signs that a person might be considering hurting themselves. Most people will show warning‬ ‭signs of their intention to hurt themselves. These are just two of the warning signs to look for to‬ ‭help you spot someone who may need help.‬ ‭‬ ‭These things can make suicide more likely: having access to a gun or other weapon; using alcohol‬ ‭or other drugs; and coping with ongoing depression. Having access to a gun or other weapon,‬ ‭using alcohol or other drugs or coping with ongoing depression can make it more likely that a‬ ‭person with suicide thoughts will take action. These are all factors that negatively influence a‬ ‭person’s ability to reason, deal with troublesome feelings or maintain supportive relationships‬ ‭with important people in their lives.‬ ‭‬ ‭Here is a BIG MYTH: People who are going to hurt themselves are going to do it no matter‬ ‭what, so there’s no point telling anyone else if you think someone might commit suicide. The‬ ‭reality is your intervention can make a difference. Suicide thoughts must be taken seriously, and‬ ‭they won’t just go away. But people who are having suicide thoughts can get better with‬ ‭professional help. This is why it’s very important to tell a trusted adult if someone tells you they‬ ‭are thinking about suicide, or you see warning signs that make you worry about yourself or a‬ ‭friend.‬ ‭ ike eating disorders, anxiety and depression, suicide thoughts aren’t something that will go away on‬ L ‭their own or something a person can just “get over.” These mental health disorders require professional‬ ‭help and treatment. So it’s very important to learn to recognize the warning signs and to get help right‬ ‭away from a trusted adult if you or any of your friends are having suicide thoughts.‬ I‭ t’s a myth that suicide happens without warning. Many people give verbal clues or directly tell someone‬ ‭else about their suicide thoughts. Most people will exhibit warning signs of their intention to hurt‬ ‭themselves, if others know what to look for.‬ ‭ eople behave in different ways when they’re in trouble. Any behavior that gets the attention of others‬ P ‭because it’s worrisome, ongoing or different from the person’s usual behaviors can be a warning sign that‬ ‭the person needs help.‬ ‭ eing alert to these warning signs can help you step in and offer support before it’s too late to help.‬ B ‭Suicide isn’t a response to a single problem or event. It’s the result of an accumulation of issues and‬ ‭feelings. Because suicide thoughts can build over time, knowing the warning signs can be very important.‬ I‭ t’s very important to remember that people who are having suicide thoughts need professional help.‬ ‭Suicide thoughts must be taken seriously, because they won’t just go away on their own. It’s critical to tell‬ ‭someone if you or any of your friends are having suicide thoughts.‬ ‭ elling a trusted adult is often the best first step. You could talk to your parent, a teacher, counselor or‬ T ‭school nurse. There are also agencies that deal with suicide prevention that can help you in an immediate‬ ‭crisis and‬ ‭provide referrals for ongoing professional help. It is important to ask for help because you won’t have the‬ ‭power or skills to stop someone from committing suicide. Suicide thoughts are the result of many‬ ‭problems that have been building up over time, and a person who is having them requires professional‬ ‭help.‬ ‭Understanding & Coping with Stress‬ ‭Imagine this happens to you:‬ ‭You’ve studied hard for a final exam but once you’re in class looking at the test, you realize you‬ ‭don’t know the material at all. What feelings or emotions are you having? What are you thinking?‬ ‭How does your body react?‬ ‭ tress is a feeling of pressure around events, circumstances or situations. It’s a part of life. You can feel‬ S ‭stress when facing a difficult situation. You can also feel stress when facing any kind of change in your‬ ‭life, even when you view the change as a positive one.‬ ‭ tress is normal. Everyone experiences it. But how you respond to and deal with stress can play a big part‬ S ‭in your emotional health. One important skill for developing positive emotional health is being able to‬ ‭manage stress and cope with stressful situations.‬ ‭ umans experience change from the moment of birth until the moment of death. We’re constantly‬ H ‭adjusting to events, changes and situations in life.‬ ‭ stressor is anything that causes stress. Some stressors are external—they come from the outside world.‬ A ‭Examples of external stressors include:‬ ‭ School assignments‬ ‭ Pressure from friends to do something you don’t want to do‬ ‭ Emergencies or difficult events‬ ‭Some stressors are internal—they come from inside yourself. Examples of internal stressors include:‬ ‭ Wanting to do well at something‬ ‭ Worrying about what other people‬ ‭ ome major stressors or life changes people your age might experience at home, in school and with‬ S ‭friends include:‬ ‭ Death of a family member or friend‬ ‭ Serious illness of a family member or friend‬ ‭ Moving‬ ‭ Parents’ divorce‬ ‭ End of a friendship‬ ‭ Failing a class‬ ‭ Graduating‬ ‭ Getting or not getting into college‬ ‭ Getting a job‬ ‭ ome everyday stressors people your age might experience at home, in school and with friends‬ S ‭include:‬ ‭ Arguing with parents‬ ‭ Not getting along with a sibling or dating partner‬ ‭ Misunderstandings with friends‬ ‭ Being late for school or another appointment‬ ‭ Not being prepared for class‬ ‭ Getting homework done‬ ‭ Technology breaking down or not working when you need or want it‬ ‭ Pressure to perform well at a sport or other activity‬ ‭ Chores or other expected tasks‬ ‭ Peer pressure‬ ‭ Gossip or rumors‬ ‭ Keeping up on social media‬ ‭ Bullying‬ ‭ Having too much to do‬ ‭ ometimes stress can be useful. It can motivate you to get things done or help you learn new skills. But it‬ S ‭can also cause worry, upset or fear, or even make you sick. Stress can come from major events or changes‬ ‭in your life. Or it can come from daily hassles that build up over time.‬ ‭ any of the stressors are negative events or situations. But positive situations or events can also be‬ M ‭stressful. For example, preparing for a vacation or trying out for a school play are positive events that can‬ ‭cause stress. Any situation with an uncertain outcome can be potentially stressful, even if it leads to‬ ‭something positive. Change is definitely part of life. Sometimes changes happen slowly or so quietly that‬ ‭you may not notice them at the time. Other changes can be sudden or dramatic. Major negative events or‬ ‭changes are the ones people usually think of as stressors, but all kinds of changes—even positive‬ ‭ones—can cause a degree of stress. In the same way, everyday stressors or daily hassles may seem small‬ ‭when taken individually, but when they occur throughout your day or continue to happen over time, they‬ ‭can also lead to significant amounts of stress.‬ ‭Understanding how your mind and body respond to all kinds of stress is another key to managing it.‬ ‭Some common emotions felt during stressful times include:‬ ‭ Feeling anxious or worried‬ ‭ Feeling irritable or angry‬ ‭ Feeling sad‬ ‭ Feeling insecure or scared‬ ‭ Feeling numb or depressed‬ ‭ Trouble concentrating‬ ‭ Thinking negative thoughts‬ ‭ Putting yourself or someone else down)‬ ‭Some physical feelings felt response to stress commonly include:‬ ‭ Faster heart rate‬ ‭ Breathing faster‬ ‭ Sweating‬ ‭ Dry mouth‬ ‭ Upset stomach‬ ‭The physical reactions and sensations that you listed are short-term responses to stress. They‬ ‭happen right away in response to the stressor. But, if stress isn’t managed, there are also many‬ ‭physical health problems that can occur in the long term or over time.‬ ‭ hen stress is constant or continual, a person can become physically ill. Long-term physical problems‬ W ‭related to stress include digestion problems, stomach aches, constipation or diarrhea, high blood pressure,‬ ‭heart disease, cancer, stroke and skin problems such as acne. The immune system doesn’t function as‬ ‭well, so a person is more prone to colds, flu and other infections. In severe cases, a person’s organs can‬ ‭fail and death can result. Long-term stress can also lead to mental health problems, such as anxiety‬ ‭disorders, which cause a person to have ongoing feelings of worry, fear or panic that interfere with daily‬ ‭life, or depression, which is an ongoing feeling of sadness, despair or numbness that keeps a person from‬ ‭enjoying life.‬ ‭ ngoing stress can have serious consequences for both your emotional and physical health. This is why‬ O ‭knowing how to manage stress is an important skill.‬ ‭ tress is not the same for everyone. The reaction to stress often depends on how the person views the‬ S ‭situation or event. It can also be influenced by a person’s past experiences and skills in handling stress.‬ ‭ ometimes people react to stress by becoming angry or upset, or by blaming someone else for the‬ S ‭situation. Or they may feel so overwhelmed that they avoid the stressful situation, pretend it isn’t‬ ‭happening, or even try to escape through alcohol or other drug use. These are negative or unhealthy ways‬ ‭to deal with stress that can wind up adding to the pressure the person is feeling and cause more problems‬ ‭over time.‬ ‭ ometimes stress might push or motivate people to take action to handle the situation that’s causing the‬ S ‭stress, if it’s something over which they have some control. Sometimes people are able to keep a positive‬ ‭outlook and think of good things that could come from the situation. Getting more information, asking for‬ ‭help, doing something to relax, taking a break until you feel calmer, or approaching the problem one step‬ ‭at a time are all positive ways to respond to stress.‬ ‭Things you can do for Yourself to decrease stress include but are not limited to:‬ ‭➔‬ ‭Make healthy choices. Doing something that’s healthy for your body or mind when you’re feeling‬ ‭stressed can help you feel better. Keeping your body healthy by eating nutritious foods, getting‬ ‭enough physical activity and avoiding tobacco, alcohol and other drugs can also lower your‬ ‭overall stress level or help keep stress under control.‬ ‭➔‬ G ‭ et support. Talking with a friend or a trusted adult can ease troubled feelings and help you figure‬ ‭out solutions. Positive social connections help people maintain their emotional health and‬ ‭experience less stress in their lives.‬ ‭➔‬ U ‭ nderstand your feelings. Writing, drawing or some other creative way of expressing what you‬ ‭feel can often help a person work through difficult feelings. Keeping a journal, writing a poem or‬ ‭song, painting a picture or making a collage are some ideas you could try.‬ ‭➔‬ F ‭ ind ways to relax. You’ve learned about the effects of stress on the body. Doing things to slow‬ ‭your heart rate and breathing and relax tense muscles can help relieve the physical stress‬ ‭response. You can also find ways to relax or refocus your mind on something other than the‬ ‭stressful situation.‬ ‭➔‬ K ‭ eep a sense of humor. A sense of humor gives you the ability to laugh at a situation rather than‬ ‭at yourself or someone else. Sometimes tension can be eased when you can think of or say‬ ‭something lighthearted in a difficult situation. It’s always important to consider the‬ ‭circumstances, however, because humor may not be appropriate in all stressful situations.‬ ‭➔‬ T ‭ ake action when you can. If the stressful situation is one you have some control over, taking‬ ‭action—even if it’s just a small step—can help you feel more empowered and capable. And,‬ ‭remember, you always have control over your own choices, even if you can’t control the source‬ ‭of the stress.‬ ‭➔‬ R ‭ esolve or eliminate the source of stress. If you can figure out where the stress is coming from or‬ ‭what’s causing it, you may be able to take steps to resolve a situation or change how you respond‬ ‭to it. Identify the stressors in your life and see which ones you can avoid or deal with before they‬ ‭become too stressful.‬ ‭➔‬ I‭ dentify how to prevent stress in the future. This might mean learning how to manage your time,‬ ‭or thinking ahead about what needs to be accomplished to complete a project or a task to help‬ ‭keep you focused and organized.‬ ‭Stress Management Techniques‬ ‭ ometimes you can prevent or reduce the amount of stress in your life but not all stress can be prevented.‬ S ‭You are going to learn and practice some techniques that will help you deal with stress when you’re‬ ‭experiencing it.‬ ‭ hese are some things you can do to help reduce the level of stress you experience or even prevent some‬ T ‭stress from happening in the first place. You’re going to learn more about these 3 ways to help prevent or‬ ‭reduce stress.‬ ‭Physical Activity‬ ‭Time Management‬ ‭Talking About It‬ ‭ ometimes stress is unavoidable. Now you’re going to learn about and then practice some specific‬ S ‭techniques you can use to help you manage stress when it occurs. Not all of these techniques will work‬ ‭for every person. As you practice, you can decide which ones work best for you. Then you can use them‬ ‭the next time you feel stressed.‬ ‭ oo much stress can hurt your physical and emotional health. Finding ways to prevent or reduce stress‬ T ‭and knowing some stress-management techniques can help you stay healthy.‬ ‭Ending Relationships‬ ‭ elationships can have unhealthy qualities. Just like people, relationships go through ups and downs.‬ R ‭People who feel love and affection for each other may also sometimes experience irritation or even‬ ‭dislike. Nearly every relationship has some healthy or positive qualities. These are the things that people‬ ‭enjoy and value about their relationships. Most of the time, the healthy qualities and benefits people‬ ‭experience from being in a relationship outweigh the problems and motivate them to work on the‬ ‭challenges. These positive aspects are always there in some way, even when people disagree or become‬ ‭annoyed with each other. Nearly every relationship has some unhealthy or negative qualities as well. In a‬ ‭good relationship, the people are able to accept these things or are open to doing the work it will take to‬ ‭change them.‬ ‭ hat are some unhealthy qualities found in a relationship?‬ W ‭Examples include:‬ ‭ Lack of trust‬ ‭ Jealousy‬ ‭ Fights‬ ‭ Constantly trying to change the other person‬ ‭ Manipulation [tricking the other person into doing things for you]‬ ‭ Lack of empathy‬ ‭ Lack of respect‬ ‭ Poor communication‬ ‭ Abuse [physical, emotional, sexual]‬ ‭ emember that communication, trust, respect and taking personal responsibility are some key ingredients‬ R ‭for healthy relationships. You can use the skills you’ve been learning to build your relationships and work‬ t‭hrough the difficulties that arise. Communicating clearly and honestly, listening, showing care and‬ ‭concern, accepting and respecting each other, and taking personal responsibility for your own thoughts,‬ ‭feelings and actions can go a long way toward helping you improve your relationships.‬ ‭ ometimes the unhealthy or negative qualities of a relationship take over or can’t be improved, making‬ S ‭both people unhappy. Sometimes people’s interests, priorities and desires change in ways that make the‬ ‭relationship hard to sustain. No longer sharing thoughts and feelings with each other, not listening or‬ ‭paying attention, constant criticism, increases in misunderstandings or unresolved conflicts, or no longer‬ ‭wanting to spend time together are all warning signs that a relationship may be in trouble.‬ ‭ ometimes troubled relationships can be saved if both partners are committed to working on changing the‬ S ‭unhealthy qualities. They can try to understand why the problems exist, work on their communication‬ ‭skills and focus on shifting their attitudes and behaviors to help make the relationship better and healthier.‬ ‭But sometimes, even with work, one or both people will decide they no longer want to be in the‬ ‭relationship. If a relationship turns out to be too unhealthy to improve, or if the unhealthy qualities have‬ ‭become so great that they threaten a person’s physical safety or emotional health, the best option is to end‬ ‭it. If a relationship has become abusive or dangerous, a person may need to get help. Let’s suppose we‬ ‭are talking about a relationship with some warning signs, but one that isn’t dangerous or abusive. One of‬ ‭the people has decided they no longer want to be in the relationship.‬ ‭ elationships of all kinds can come to an end for many different reasons. Sometimes there are serious‬ R ‭warning signs. Other times the people involved simply come to realize that a friendship or dating‬ ‭relationship isn’t right for them anymore. More often, one of the people decides the relationship is no‬ ‭longer a good choice. Ending relationships isn’t easy, but there are things you can do both to end a‬ ‭relationship in healthy ways and to cope with the feelings a relationship ending can bring.‬ ‭If you decide you want or need to end a relationship, here are some guidelines:‬ ‭‬ ‭Make the decision. Be sure that ending the relationship is what you really want.‬ ‭‬ ‭Be prepared to feel uncomfortable. You may feel lonely and unhappy after a relationship ends,‬ ‭e