Resource for teaching how to deal with mixed emotions

Having mixed emotions is really common. But sitting with ‘opposite’ feelings can be pretty confusing. This lesson encourages students to reflect on what it means to have mixed emotions, and to identify coping strategies and support options for dealing with them.

Learning Intention

Students will learn what mixed emotions are, strategies they can use to cope with them and support options they can turn to if they need extra help.

Key Outcomes

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

• understand that having mixed emotions is normal and valid
• identify coping strategies that can help them to manage their mixed emotions
• identify sources of support when mixed emotions become overwhelming.

ACTIVITY 01 (15 minutes)

Class discussion: Understanding mixed emotions

1. As a class, watch the ReachOut video Ask a therapist: Dealing with mixed emotions.

2. After watching the video, discuss the following questions as a class:

• What does it mean to have mixed emotions?
• Why do mixed emotions feel challenging for some people?
• Are mixed emotions okay? Why or why not?

3. If students are comfortable doing so, ask for volunteers to share times when they’ve felt conflicting emotions or had mixed feelings about a situation.

ACTIVITY 02 (30 minutes)

Group brainstorms: Coping strategies

1. Divide students into small groups.
2. Provide each group with a large sheet of paper and markers.
3. Instruct each group to brainstorm coping strategies for dealing with mixed emotions. Encourage students to think creatively and to consider a range of strategies, such as the ones outlined in the video.
4. After brainstorming, have each group share their strategies with the class and write them on the whiteboard.
5. Lead a class discussion about the coping strategies the students shared. Discuss the pros and cons of the various strategies and when each one might be useful.

ACTIVITY 03 (15 minutes)

Research activity: Seeking support

1. Discuss the importance of seeking support when mixed emotions become overwhelming.
2. Have students research and create a list of the different support options they might turn to when dealing with overwhelming mixed emotions. These might include friends, family, school counsellors, hotlines, peer workers or online resources such as ReachOut.
3. In pairs, have students briefly describe how each source of support could be of help.

Content has been created by ReachOut. To view more information about ReachOut click here.