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.
Year level
7-10
Duration
60 minutes
Type
In class activity
SEL Competencies
Self-awareness
Self-management
Relationship skills
Responsible decision-making
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.
Materials needed
Access to the ReachOut video Ask a therapist: Dealing with mixed emotions
Large sheets of paper and markers
Students’ devices
Mapped to
Australian Curriculum: Health and Physical Education
Analyse factors that influence emotional responses and devise strategies to self-manage emotions (AC9HP8P06)
Evaluate emotional responses in different situations to refine strategies for managing emotions (AC9HP10P06)
Australian Curriculum: General Capabilities
Personal and Social Capability:
Self-awareness
NSW PDHPE Syllabus
Demonstrates self-management skills to effectively manage complex situations (PD4-9)
Assesses and applies self-management skills to effectively manage complex situations (PD5-9)
Victorian Curriculum: Health and Physical Education
Analyse factors that influence emotions, and develop strategies to demonstrate empathy and sensitivity (VCHPEP128)
Evaluate situations and propose appropriate emotional responses and then reflect on possible outcomes of different responses to health and wellbeing (VCHPEP147)
Activity 1
Class discussion: Understanding mixed emotions
15 minutes
As a class, watch the ReachOut video Ask a therapist: Dealing with mixed emotions.
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?
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 2
Group brainstorms: Coping strategies
30 minutes
Divide students into small groups.
Provide each group with a large sheet of paper and markers.
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.
After brainstorming, have each group share their strategies with the class and write them on the whiteboard.
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 3
Research activity: Seeking support
15 minutes
Discuss the importance of seeking support when mixed emotions become overwhelming.
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.
In pairs, have students briefly describe how each source of support could be of help.
