Sometimes I Get MAD Everyone gets mad from

Sometimes I Get MAD!

• Everyone gets mad from time to time. When we are mad it is called being angry. • Anger is an emotion that we have when someone does something that we do not like or when something happens that we do not like. Being mad or angry happens to everyone. • Since anger is an emotion we have to be careful or else we can allow being angry to control what we do and what we say.

• When this happens it means that we lose control. Control means that we are in charge of what we say and what we do. • When we lose control it means we are not thinking about what we are saying and what we are doing. • It is so important that when we get mad we stay in control or else we might say something or do something that hurts someone else or even ourselves.

• Things will happen almost every day that you do not like. Something will happen or someone will say something that you do not like. • The question is whether or not you stay in control or let your anger have control. • When you get mad and they let your anger control you, you make bad choices.

• The words you say and the things you do when you are mad will never be as good of a choice as the words you would say and the things you would do if you weren’t mad. • Being mad is a great way to make bad decisions.

• Getting mad is an emotion, so it happens in your mind, but your mind controls your body. • When you get mad you will get red in the face, sometimes you start to sweat, your muscles will get tight, and sometimes your head and stomach will start hurting.

• TAKE DEEP BREATHS— sometimes when you are getting mad you just need to take a couple of deep breaths to get control. • The next thing you can do is to STRETCH YOUR MUSCLES. When you stretch your muscles it makes it hard for them to stay tight and this can help you calm down. • There will be times when you can’t make noises but still need to calm down, like when you are taking a test. The best way to do this is to CLOSE YOUR EYES AND SLOWLY COUNT TO 5. How do I control myself?

Talk to your trusted adult 1. What makes you mad? What makes them mad? 2. How do you calm yourself? How do they calm themselves? 3. Discuss a time when you let anger cause you to make a bad decision. What can you do different next time? 4. Ask an adult you trust to answer question #3

• You are smart enough to control yourselves. • You are smart enough to use the calming exercises. • Remember you will make much better decisions when you are in control.