Some of you asked questions we didn’t get to discuss during the session. Here are some of my thoughts on those questions, but feel free to email me any time with follow-up questions (sarah@openmindsmentalhealth.ca).

Bouncing back after difficult situations: Here’s an expanded explanation about the Window of Tolerance. If you scroll down about halfway, you’ll see a couple of sections that might be particularly relevant. One is called Self-Care Strategies for Working with Hyperarousal and the next is Self-Care Strategies for Working with Hypoarousal .

I’m also a fan of what’s called the Hot Walk and Talk Protocol which is a way we can support each other when things have gotten heated.

Boundaries Around Emotional Labour: Here’s a video containing some great ideas for boundary phrases when dealing with challenging, aggressive, rude, etc. customers. Talks about how to stay professional while being assertive. And this article about Managing Emotionally Charged Client Interactions has some really useful strategies.

De-Escalation: Here are a few de-escalation essentials from a recent workshop I did for a drop-in centre. And here is a Pocket Guide to De-Escalation in Libraries.

Not taking things personally: This is a great chart outlining recommendations for viewing & managing challenging situations through a trauma-informed lens. And this is a more general set of tips for working toward taking things less personally. It is written for adults with ADHD, but has useful info for anyone.

Third Spaces: here’s a great podcast episode about libraries’ essential roles in our world, with Eric Klinenberg, author of Palaces for the People: How social infrustructure can help fight inequality, polarization, and the decline of civic life.