Learning Goals:

• Understand what a crisis is and how it can affect your emotions, body, and thinking.
• Recognize that crises can be emotional, social, academic, or family-related.
• Learn that while you can’t always control what happens, you can control how you respond.

🧠 What Counts as a Crisis?

A crisis isn’t just something dramatic or loud. It’s any moment where your world feels turned upside down — when you feel stuck, panicked, hopeless, or overwhelmed.

Examples of common youth crises:

• A huge fight with a close friend
• Your parents are arguing — a lot
• You failed a big test or forgot a major assignment
• You find out someone was talking behind your back
• A pet passes away
• You’re left out of something important to you

In moments like this, it’s normal to feel scared, frozen, or furious. But these moments can also help you discover:

• Who you are under pressure
• How you can recover
• What kind of support you need

💡 Real-Life Example:

You come home and hear your parents arguing loudly. Your stomach drops. You feel like hiding. You wonder if it’s your fault or if your family is breaking apart.

Here’s what you can do:

• Pause: Remind yourself: “I’m not the cause or the fixer. I need space to feel safe.”
• Plan: Go to a quiet space, listen to music, draw, or message a trusted adult.
• Problem-Solve: The next day, write down how it made you feel. Is there someone you trust to talk to — a teacher, counselor, or older sibling?

You don’t have to solve everything — you only have to take care of you first.