Name It to Tame It

Feelings happen. Big ones, small ones, weird ones that show up out of nowhere. Self-care is not about pretending we are fine. It is about learning how to handle what we are feeling when it pops up.

“Name it to tame it” is a simple idea. When we put words to our feelings, our brains calm down a bit. Once we know what we are feeling, it is easier to decide what to do next.

This works for kids, teens, and adults. When kids do not have the words for their emotions, those feelings often come out as meltdowns, attitude, or shutting down. Naming feelings helps everyone slow down and communicate better.

Easy ways families can practice this:

• Keep a short list of feeling words on the fridge

• Say your feelings out loud as adults, like “I am feeling overwhelmed, so I am taking a break”

• Let kids and teens know all feelings are okay, even the messy ones

• After naming the feeling, ask “What might help right now?”

  
  

Self-care can be a quick pause and a simple question: “What am I feeling?” That pause can make a big difference.

Journal Prompt: What feeling showed up the most for you this week, and what helped you through it?