Need to Calm Down?
Blow three deep breaths towards the screen to magically shrink your stress. Just turn on your sound and press play!
Why This Works
Slow, deep exhalations stimulate your vagus nerve, and signal to your nervous system that you are safe and it's okay to calm down. Deep breathing also reactivates the thinking part of your brain (the prefrontal cortex) which helps you make good decisions. When you're really stressed out, the prefrontal cortex shuts down, which makes impulse control and good decision making almost impossible. This is why our Wiggle Warrior® tools encourage kids to wiggle and breathe to reset their nervous system before they make a choice on what to do or say.
Did You Know Stress Shows Up To Help You Take Action?
Learn about The Action Cycle in this video written by Anne Kubitsky and presented by Jessica DeShong
The "I'm Fine" Box Develops When Our Action Cycle Gets Stuck
When too much happens - too fast - without enough support, the nervous system gets overwhelmed and our action cycle can get stuck. This is when the "I'm Fine" box appears. Developed by Anne Kubitsky, the "I'm Fine" box is a therapeutic concept which helps kids visualize a pile-up of complex emotions that need to be unpacked. Since trauma takes away choice, this box helps kids regain their ability to choose when to open the box and process their feelings.
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