Has your child ever gone from calm to upset just because something isn’t happening in the exact way they expected? I remember this happening to me...
Why Kids Panic When Plans Change? (And What Helps in the Moment)
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Category
Dysregulation Series
ARFID and the Nervous System: Why Food Safety Is Emotional Safety
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) was a surprise diagnosis for our household, but it immediately explained years of confusing eating...
The Hidden Dysregulation in Dyslexia and Dysgraphia
Writing thank-you notes should not bring a child to tears, but in our household, it almost did. Dysgraphia is evident in our family through writing...
How Emotional Dysregulation Shows Up in ADHD
Emotional Dysregulation, Kids, and the ADHD Experience The first forty-plus years of my life have been guided by a quote by Maya Angelou that has...
Why is My Kid Melting Down? The Brain Science Behind Why Kids Lose Control
Autism is the most common neurodivergent diagnosis in our household, although I did not understand autism spectrum disorder until much later in my...
OCD, Anxiety, and Control: Understanding the Regulation Loop
Understanding OCD Signs in Children I think OCD has been the hardest diagnosis for our family to cope with, and ironically, it was the one that made...
Why Does My Child Fight Me on Everything? Understanding Demand Avoidance
When Everyday Requests Turn Into Power Struggles It’s 7:42 a.m. You’re watching the clock, mentally calculating how much time you have left before...
Why Does My Child Fall Apart Over Small Criticism? Understanding Rejection Sensitivity in ADHD and Autism
When Small Corrections Trigger Big Reactions in Neurodivergent Kids You say, “You skipped this question.” Your tone is calm. You are pointing...
Emotional Dysregulation in AUDHD Teens (Autism + ADHD)
You ask your teen (what feels like) a reasonable question. It might be about homework, getting ready to leave, or turning a screen off. Their...
Siblings and Autism: Supporting Sibling Relationships During Dysregulation and Healing Resentment
There was a period in our family life when both kids were struggling at the same time. One child would tense up, stomp, or shout, and the other...
Calming a Dysregulated Child Away From Home (When You’ve Lost Your Safe Space)
You’re at the grocery store. Or a restaurant. Or standing in line at the DMV. Your child becomes overwhelmed. They might start to whine, cry, yell,...
How Parents and Kids Trigger Each Other During Meltdowns (The Double Dysregulation Cycle)
Helping an ADHD Parent and Autism-Spectrum Child Manage Sensory Overload It’s common for families to share more than love and routines; they often...