Emotional regulation is the ability to manage your emotions and impulses. It involves learning skills to increase positive thinking and decrease negative thinking when faced with challenging situations. This may include rethinking a difficult problem to reduce anger and anxiety.
The area of your brain responsible for emotions is the Limbic system. The Limbic system has four parts that control emotions and the body’s response to the emotions.
The area of the brain responsible for emotional regulation is the pre-frontal cortex. This part of the brain controls regulatory behaviours like impulse control, reactivity, and flexibility. It develops primarily during adolescence but only fully matures once a person is mid-twenties.
When a child is distressed, angry, or overly excited, they may not be able to regulate this emotion. Their emotions have activated behaviours that their pre-frontal cortex cannot control. A child cannot verbalise what is upsetting them or making them angry until their bodily response has calmed down.
YouTube video by FtMyersFamPsych
YouTube video by The Mindfulness Teacher
YouTube video by Pure Star Kids
YouTube video by Learn and Play Right Brain Education
Susana is a Registered Counsellor who brings to NAPA 25 years of experience working in educational and school settings. She specialises in anxiety disorders, ADHD, mood disorders, stress management, grief and loss, self-esteem, peer relationships, school issues, trauma, and bullying. She is passionate about working with children with disabilities, working alongside their families and carers to ensure everyone is supported to reach their potential.
