What is Emotional Regulation?

What is emotional self-regulation and why is it important? Emotional self-regulation is the ability to control our emotions. This ability is tied into our executive functioning skills and is learned over time. When an individual has difficulty with their emotional self-regulation skills it might look like having low frustration tolerance, outbursts of temper, or mood swings that happen suddenly. Some children may have difficulty in their emotional regulation skills if they have other mental health conditions, are neurodivergent, or as a symptom of their environment. There are ways to help children who have emotional self-regulation difficulties. Self-regulation skills first develop with connection to caregivers and through co-regulation. There are some great resources available for parents who want to learn more about how to help their child develop emotional self-regulation skills.

Parenting Resources:

No-Drama Discipline - by Daniel J. Siegel, M.D. and Tina Payne Bryson, Ph.D.

Easy to Love, Difficult to Discipline - by Becky A. Bailey, Ph.D.

Good Inside - by Dr. Becky Kennedy

The Emotional Lives of Teenagers - by Lisa Damour, Ph.D.

Wishing you well,

Dr. Stoll

*This blog includes information for reference purposes only.