Social distancing is a mental strategy that helps people deal with difficult social situations. The goal of social distancing is to create a buffer between the person and the situation, so that the person can think more clearly and act more calmly.
There are five steps to social distancing:
1. Identify the problem. What is causing the emotional response? What is making it difficult to think or respond?
2. Establish facts. Identify what is actually happening. Is someone attacking you? Is your boss yelling at you?
3. Get perspective.
Take a step back and look at the situation from another perspective. What could be going on that you don’t know about?
4. Evaluate options. What are your options? What can you do to calm down or solve the problem?
5. Act calmly and thoughtfully. Once you have evaluated your options, take action based on what is best for you and for the situation.
