Activities
Try one of the following strategies to help yourself cope with cognitive problems:
Problem-solving
When you have a complex problem, break it into the following chunks to make it more manageable:
- First define the problem.
- Next define the goal(s).
- Then brainstorm all possible solutions.
- Evaluate each solution and select the most appropriate one.
STOP
Practice the STOP skill to connect with your learning brain.
- S—Stop: Notice when you’re acting from your survival brain (based on defensive instincts) or emotional brain (based on emotion), not your learning brain (based on thought).
- T—Take a step back: It can be hard to evaluate a problem or make a decision when you’re in the heat of a moment. Give yourself some space to properly evaluate what is going on.
- O—Observe: Notice what’s going on around you and inside of you.
- P—Proceed thoughtfully: Ask yourself “What do I want from this situation?” or “What are my goals?” or “What choice might make this situation better or worse?” or “What act will allow for success?”
Writing prompts
Think of a challenging situation you recently experienced and write a description of the event from the perspective of each of your three brain layers:
- Survival brain
- Emotional brain
- Learning brain