10/14/2026
Sometimes it hits out of nowhere. A loud noise in the hallway, a smell, a song, or just an ordinary Tuesday. Your heart races, your chest tightens, and it can feel like you're back in that moment.
That's your body trying to protect you. It doesn't mean you're "not over it," and it doesn't mean something is wrong with you.
When it happens, try this:
🖐️ 5-4-3-2-1
Look around and name, out loud or in your head:
5 things you can see
4 things you can touch (your sleeve, your desk, your shoes on the floor)
3 things you can hear
2 things you can smell
1 thing you can taste
Go slowly. The goal isn't to make the feeling disappear. It's to remind your brain where you are right now: here, today, safe in this moment.
A few other things that can help:
💨 Breathe out longer than you breathe in. In for 4, out for 6. A long exhale tells your body it can slow down.
🦶 Press your feet into the floor. Notice the ground holding you up.
🧶 Hold onto something. A cold water bottle, a smooth rock, a hoodie string. Focus on how it feels.
💬 Text someone you trust. You don't have to explain. "Rough moment, can you talk?" is enough.
⏯️ Step out if you need to. Ask for a hall pass, get some water, take a minute. That's okay.
Moments like this can show up weeks, months, or a year later. That's normal. And you don't have to handle them alone.
The Evergreen Resiliency Center is located at 5120 Co Rd 73. No paperwork needed to walk in, and if you're 12 or older, you can come on your own. Come for a quiet space, someone to talk to, or just to be. 💛 (720) 362-2925
Monday: 10:00am – 5:00pm
Tuesday: 9:00am – 7:00pm
Wednesday: 9:00am – 7:00pm
Thursday: 9:00am – 7:00pm
Friday: 10:00am – 5:00pm
If you're in crisis right now, call or text 988 anytime.
