Emotion Regulation

Emotional regulation is all about how we manage and respond to what we’re feeling. Everyone has big emotions from time to time - anger, sadness, excitement, frustration - but emotional regulation helps us handle those feelings in ways that don’t overwhelm us or hurt others. It’s not about ignoring emotions or “being positive all the time,” but about understanding what we’re feeling, why we’re feeling it, and choosing healthy ways to respond.

When emotional regulation is difficult, feelings can come on really strong and feel impossible to control, which might lead to yelling, shutting down, or acting impulsively. The good news is that emotional regulation is a skill that can be learned and strengthened with practice.

Tools such as:

• breathing techniques,

• journaling,

• mindfulness,

• taking a break,

can help slow you down and respond in a calmer, more thoughtful way. Therapy can also be a great place to learn strategies for managing emotions that work for you so they don’t overtake your day.