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Emotional dysregulation represents one of the most challenging yet often misunderstood aspects of mental health and well-being. Emotional dysregulation is trouble managing feelings and reactions, affecting millions of people across all age groups and backgrounds. This condition can profoundly impact every facet of life, from personal relationships and professional success to physical health and overall quality of life. Understanding the complexities of emotional dysregulation, its underlying causes, and evidence-based strategies for managing it is essential for anyone seeking to improve their emotional health and build resilience.

What Is Emotional Dysregulation?

Emotional dysregulation means your emotional responses are hard to control, or they feel stronger than a situation calls for. Unlike the normal emotional ups and downs that everyone experiences, emotional dysregulation involves a persistent pattern of difficulty managing the intensity, duration, and expression of emotions. It can manifest in several ways, such as feeling overwhelmed by seemingly minor things, difficulty controlling impulsive behaviors, or having unpredictable outbursts.

People experiencing emotional dysregulation often find themselves caught in a cycle where their emotional responses seem disproportionate to the triggering event. A minor inconvenience might spark intense anger, a small disappointment could lead to overwhelming sadness, or everyday stressors might trigger severe anxiety. Sometimes, big feelings burst outward (like yelling or slamming doors). Other times, they turn inward (going quiet or checking out).

It's important to note that emotional dysregulation itself isn't an official mental health diagnosis. Instead, it's a pattern or symptom that can show up on its own or as part of many mental health conditions. This distinction is crucial because it means that emotional dysregulation can be addressed through various therapeutic approaches, regardless of whether it occurs alongside a diagnosed mental health condition.

The Spectrum of Emotional Dysregulation

There are many different types of emotional dysregulation, and each person's experience is unique. Typically, emotional dysregulation means an individual has excessively intense emotions in response to a trigger. The severity can range from mild difficulties with emotional control to severe impairment that significantly disrupts daily functioning.

Emotional dysregulation can range from mild to severe, with severe cases impacting people's careers, friendships and relationships, and ability to achieve their goals. In the most severe cases, emotional dysregulation can lead to self-destructive behaviors, relationship breakdowns, job loss, and serious mental health crises.

Understanding the Root Causes of Emotional Dysregulation

The development of emotional dysregulation is rarely attributable to a single cause. Instead, it typically emerges from a complex interplay of biological, psychological, environmental, and developmental factors. Understanding these contributing elements can help individuals and mental health professionals develop more targeted and effective treatment approaches.

Childhood Trauma and Adverse Experiences

One of the most significant risk factors for emotional dysregulation is exposure to trauma during childhood. Exposure to traumatic events and interpersonal trauma in childhood is associated with a wide range of psychosocial, developmental, and medical impairments in children, adolescents and adults, with emotional dysregulation being a core feature that may help to account for this heightened risk.

Childhood experiences play a significant role in the development of emotional regulation abilities. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), such as physical or emotional abuse, neglect, and exposure to domestic violence, can impair the ability to regulate emotions effectively. These experiences can fundamentally alter how the developing brain processes and responds to emotions.

Research has identified specific developmental periods when trauma exposure may be particularly damaging. Exposure to child maltreatment in middle childhood is most associated with elevated emotion dysregulation symptoms in adulthood. This suggests that children aged six to ten may be especially vulnerable to the long-term emotional regulation impacts of traumatic experiences.

Studies show that individuals with a history of childhood trauma, particularly those who didn't receive emotional validation from their parents or caregivers, are more likely to struggle with emotional regulation in later life. The absence of a supportive, validating environment during critical developmental periods can prevent children from learning healthy emotional regulation strategies.

Neurobiological Factors

The brain plays a central role in emotional regulation, and disruptions to normal brain development or function can contribute significantly to emotional dysregulation. When a child experiences trauma, these brain structures can be significantly impacted, leading to long-term difficulties in emotional regulation. One of the primary effects of trauma is an overactive amygdala, which becomes hypervigilant to perceived threats. This heightened state of alertness can cause individuals to react with excessive fear, anger, or anxiety to even minor stressors, making emotional regulation challenging.

The prefrontal cortex, responsible for executive functions including impulse control and emotional regulation, can also be affected by early adverse experiences. Childhood trauma can impair the development of the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for executive functions such as impulse control and emotional regulation. As a result, individuals may struggle to calm themselves when distressed, experience difficulty in delaying emotional reactions, or engage in impulsive behaviours. This imbalance between an overactive amygdala and an underdeveloped prefrontal cortex creates a pattern of emotional dysregulation that can persist into adulthood.

There is also evidence of genetic predisposition to emotional dysregulation. Some individuals may inherit a biological vulnerability to mood disorders or heightened emotional sensitivity, which can interact with environmental factors to increase the risk of developing emotional regulation difficulties.

Mental Health Conditions

Emotional dysregulation is closely associated with several mental health disorders. It's common with ADHD, trauma or mood disorders. Understanding these connections can help individuals recognize patterns and seek appropriate treatment.

Emotional dysregulation is associated with several mental health disorders, such as Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), characterized by severe mood swings and impulsivity; Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), which includes difficulties in regulating emotions; and Bipolar Disorder, known for extreme mood fluctuations that contribute to emotional instability.

PTSD is a mental health condition caused by experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening traumatic event. It's often characterized by severe emotional dysregulation. The intrusive memories, hypervigilance, and avoidance behaviors characteristic of PTSD can make it extremely difficult to maintain emotional equilibrium.

Environmental and Social Factors

Beyond individual and biological factors, the environment in which a person develops and lives can significantly influence emotional regulation abilities. Current research indicates that parent-child relationships characterized by less affection and greater hostility may result in children developing emotional regulation problems.

Stressors, whether from work, relationships, or financial challenges, can trigger emotional dysregulation. When individuals are exposed to chronic stress, it can overwhelm their emotional regulation mechanisms, causing an increase in negative emotions and difficulties in managing those emotions. Social isolation, lack of support systems, and unhealthy relationship dynamics can further compound these difficulties.

Children of parents with symptoms of depression are less likely to learn strategies for regulating their emotions and are at risk of inheriting a mood disorder. When parents have difficulty regulating their emotions, they often cannot teach their children to regulate properly. This intergenerational transmission of emotional dysregulation highlights the importance of addressing these issues not just for individuals but for entire family systems.

Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms

Identifying emotional dysregulation in yourself or others is the first step toward seeking help and implementing effective coping strategies. The manifestations can vary widely from person to person, but several common patterns emerge.

Intense and Disproportionate Emotional Responses

One of the primary signs of emotional dysregulation is experiencing emotions with a higher intensity than most. It might feel like the emotional volume is turned way up, and even minor inconveniences can spark intense feelings of anger, sadness, or anxiety. Small setbacks or disappointments can lead to overwhelming distress, leaving you struggling to regulate these reactions.

These reactions often feel out of proportion to the triggering event. A person might experience rage over a minor traffic delay, profound sadness over a small criticism, or panic in response to a routine change in plans. The emotional response doesn't match the objective severity of the situation.

Rapid Mood Fluctuations

Mood swings are a hallmark of emotional dysregulation. These fluctuations can be rapid and unpredictable, swinging from happiness to anger, and sadness to excitement, within a short span of time. People around you might notice these dramatic shifts in your mood, potentially impacting relationships.

These rapid shifts can be confusing and exhausting both for the person experiencing them and for those around them. The unpredictability of these mood changes can make it difficult to maintain stable relationships or consistent performance at work or school.

Difficulty Calming Down

Once emotionally activated, individuals with emotional dysregulation often struggle to return to a baseline state. They may remain upset, angry, or anxious for extended periods, even after the triggering situation has resolved. This prolonged emotional arousal can be physically and mentally exhausting.

Both are common ways your brain and body try to cope when emotions feel too strong. The inability to self-soothe or employ effective calming strategies is a core feature of emotional dysregulation.

Impulsive Behaviors

Other prominent signs of emotional dysregulation is acting impulsively without thinking about the consequences. When overwhelmed by emotions, individuals may engage in behaviors they later regret, such as making rash decisions, saying hurtful things, engaging in risky activities, or turning to unhealthy coping mechanisms like substance use or self-harm.

Emotional Confusion and Lack of Awareness

They may also have difficulties recognizing their emotions and feel confused, guilty, or stressed about their behavior. Some people with emotional dysregulation struggle to identify what they're feeling or why they're feeling it. This lack of emotional clarity can make it even more difficult to implement appropriate coping strategies.

Dissociation

You might also notice dissociation. This is feeling detached from your emotions or body. This is a short-term protection response to stress or trauma. While dissociation can serve as a protective mechanism in the moment, frequent or prolonged dissociative episodes can interfere with daily functioning and relationships.

The Far-Reaching Impact on Well-Being

Emotional dysregulation doesn't exist in isolation—it ripples outward, affecting virtually every aspect of a person's life. Understanding these impacts can help motivate individuals to seek help and can inform more comprehensive treatment approaches.

Relationship Difficulties

Emotional dysregulation can affect relationships, work, school, and daily life. In interpersonal relationships, emotional dysregulation can create significant challenges. Intense emotional reactions, mood swings, and impulsive behaviors can strain even the strongest relationships.

Emotion dysregulation has also been noted as a mediator in the relationship between family of origin conflict and later conflict in romantic relationships. In this study, family of origin conflict was related to romantic relationship conflicts, another relationship that was mediated by emotion dysregulation. This suggests that emotional dysregulation not only affects current relationships but can perpetuate patterns of conflict across generations.

Partners, family members, and friends may struggle to understand the intensity of emotional reactions or may feel they're "walking on eggshells" to avoid triggering an emotional outburst. Over time, this can lead to relationship breakdown, social isolation, and loneliness, which in turn can exacerbate emotional dysregulation in a vicious cycle.

Mental Health Consequences

The relationship between emotional dysregulation and mental health is bidirectional—emotional dysregulation can contribute to the development of mental health conditions, and mental health conditions can worsen emotional dysregulation.

There are links between child emotional dysregulation and later psychopathology. Depression, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, and substance use disorders all show strong associations with emotional dysregulation.

Smoking, self-harm, eating disorders, and addiction have all been associated with emotional dysregulation. These behaviors often serve as maladaptive attempts to manage overwhelming emotions, providing temporary relief but ultimately worsening the underlying problem.

The negative effects of emotion dysregulation include externalizing behavior, excessive social media use, decreased well-being, non-suicidal self-injury behavior and suicidality. The most severe consequences of emotional dysregulation can include self-harm and suicidal behaviors, highlighting the critical importance of early intervention and effective treatment.

Physical Health Impacts

The effects of emotional dysregulation extend beyond mental health to impact physical well-being. Chronic emotional distress activates the body's stress response systems repeatedly, which can have cumulative negative effects on physical health.

Traumatic experiences in childhood have been linked to increased medical conditions throughout the individuals' lives. Results demonstrated the connection between childhood trauma exposure, high-risk behaviors (e.g., smoking, unprotected sex), chronic illness such as heart disease and cancer, and early death.

The constant activation of stress hormones can weaken the immune system, increase inflammation, elevate blood pressure, and contribute to cardiovascular disease. People with emotional dysregulation may also be more likely to engage in health-risk behaviors such as poor diet, lack of exercise, inadequate sleep, and substance use, all of which further compromise physical health.

Additionally, Complexly traumatized youth frequently suffer from body dysregulation, meaning they over-respond or under-respond to sensory stimuli. For example, they may be hypersensitive to sounds, smells, touch or light, or they may suffer from anesthesia and analgesia, in which they are unaware of pain, touch, or internal physical sensations. As a result, they may injure themselves without feeling pain, suffer from physical problems without being aware of them, or, the converse – they may complain of chronic pain in various body areas for which no physical cause can be found.

Academic and Professional Challenges

Emotional dysregulation can significantly impair academic and professional performance. Difficulty concentrating, impulsive decision-making, interpersonal conflicts with colleagues or classmates, and absenteeism due to emotional crises can all interfere with success in educational and work settings.

The inability to manage stress effectively can make it difficult to meet deadlines, handle criticism constructively, or navigate workplace politics. This can lead to underemployment, job loss, or failure to achieve one's potential, which can further impact self-esteem and emotional well-being.

Quality of Life and Daily Functioning

Eventually, the condition can impact a person's quality of life, social interaction, personal life, work-life, and relationships. Beyond specific domains like relationships or work, emotional dysregulation can diminish overall quality of life and make everyday tasks feel overwhelming.

Simple activities like grocery shopping, paying bills, or attending social events can become sources of significant stress. The unpredictability of emotional responses can lead to avoidance behaviors, where individuals increasingly withdraw from activities and situations that might trigger emotional distress, leading to a progressively constricted and isolated life.

Evidence-Based Therapeutic Approaches

The good news is that emotional dysregulation is treatable. Therapies, medications and daily habits can help you understand your emotions better and respond to them in healthier ways. Multiple therapeutic approaches have demonstrated effectiveness in helping individuals develop better emotional regulation skills.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Dialectical Behavior Therapy is widely considered one of the most effective treatments for emotional dysregulation, particularly for individuals with borderline personality disorder or those who engage in self-harm behaviors. DBT was specifically designed to help people develop skills in four key areas: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.

The emotion regulation module of DBT teaches individuals to identify and label emotions, understand the function of emotions, reduce vulnerability to negative emotions, and increase positive emotional experiences. The distress tolerance skills help people cope with crisis situations without making them worse through impulsive or destructive behaviors.

DBT typically involves both individual therapy sessions and group skills training, providing multiple opportunities to learn and practice new emotional regulation strategies in a supportive environment.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may be especially effective because it focuses on adjusting distorted thought patterns that cause emotional distress. CBT helps individuals identify the thoughts and beliefs that contribute to emotional dysregulation and develop more balanced, realistic ways of thinking.

Through CBT, individuals learn to recognize the connections between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. By changing maladaptive thought patterns, they can influence their emotional responses and behavioral reactions. CBT also teaches practical coping skills and problem-solving strategies that can be applied in real-world situations.

Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT)

Emotion-Focused Therapy takes a different approach by helping individuals become more aware of their emotions, accept them, and use emotional information to guide decision-making and behavior. EFT is based on the premise that emotions are fundamentally adaptive and that problems arise when emotional processing is disrupted or when people develop maladaptive emotional responses.

In EFT, therapists help clients access, explore, and transform problematic emotional experiences. This approach can be particularly helpful for individuals who have difficulty identifying or expressing emotions, or who have learned to suppress or avoid emotional experiences.

Trauma-Focused Therapies

For individuals whose emotional dysregulation stems from traumatic experiences, trauma-focused therapies can be particularly beneficial. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) can help recovery from emotional dysregulation in cases where the dysregulation is a symptom of prior trauma.

EMDR helps individuals process traumatic memories in a way that reduces their emotional intensity and allows for more adaptive integration of the experience. Other trauma-focused approaches, such as Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Prolonged Exposure therapy, can also help individuals process traumatic experiences and develop healthier emotional responses.

Mindfulness-Based Interventions

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and other mindfulness-based interventions teach individuals to observe their thoughts and emotions without judgment, to stay present in the moment, and to respond rather than react to emotional experiences.

Research has shown that regular mindfulness practice can actually change brain structure and function, strengthening areas involved in emotional regulation and reducing reactivity in the amygdala. Outside of therapy, there are helpful strategies to help individuals recognize how they are feeling and put space between an event and their response. These include mindfulness, affirmations, and gratitude journaling.

Medication

While there is no medication specifically for emotional dysregulation, various medications can help manage symptoms or treat underlying conditions that contribute to emotional regulation difficulties. Antidepressants, mood stabilizers, anti-anxiety medications, and in some cases, antipsychotics may be prescribed depending on the individual's specific symptoms and diagnoses.

Medication is typically most effective when combined with psychotherapy, as it can help stabilize mood and reduce symptom severity enough for individuals to engage more effectively in therapeutic work.

Self-Regulation Strategies and Lifestyle Modifications

In addition to professional treatment, there are numerous self-help strategies and lifestyle modifications that can support better emotional regulation. These approaches work best when used consistently and in combination with professional support when needed.

Developing Emotional Awareness

The first step in regulating emotions is becoming aware of them. Keeping an emotion journal can help individuals track their emotional experiences, identify triggers, and recognize patterns. This increased awareness creates opportunities for intervention before emotions become overwhelming.

Learning to identify and name specific emotions (rather than just feeling "bad" or "upset") can help reduce their intensity and make them more manageable. This skill, sometimes called emotional granularity, allows for more targeted coping strategies.

Physical Exercise and Movement

Adopting a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise, balanced nutrition, quality sleep, and stress management techniques can significantly contribute to emotional regulation. Regular physical activity can act as a natural stress reliever, potentially mitigating symptoms of mood swings.

Exercise helps regulate stress hormones, improves mood through the release of endorphins, and can provide a healthy outlet for intense emotions. Even moderate activities like walking, yoga, or dancing can have significant benefits for emotional regulation.

Sleep Hygiene

Quality sleep is essential for emotional regulation. Sleep deprivation can significantly impair the brain's ability to regulate emotions, making individuals more reactive and less able to cope with stress. Establishing consistent sleep schedules, creating a relaxing bedtime routine, and addressing sleep disorders can all support better emotional regulation.

Nutrition and Gut Health

Research has revealed a close connection between a healthy gut and mental health, further emphasizing the importance of a holistic approach to managing emotional regulation. A balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats can support brain health and emotional stability.

Limiting caffeine, alcohol, and processed foods can also help reduce mood swings and emotional reactivity. Some individuals may benefit from working with a nutritionist to identify any food sensitivities or nutritional deficiencies that might be affecting their emotional well-being.

Building a Support Network

Strong social connections are protective against emotional dysregulation. Having trusted friends, family members, or support group members to turn to during difficult times can provide emotional validation, practical assistance, and perspective.

Support groups, whether in-person or online, can connect individuals with others who understand their struggles and can offer empathy, encouragement, and practical coping strategies. Knowing you're not alone in your struggles can be profoundly healing.

Stress Management Techniques

Engaging in practices like mindfulness meditation, yoga, and deep breathing exercises can be helpful for individuals struggling with emotional dysregulation. These practices activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which counteracts the stress response and promotes relaxation.

Progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, and other relaxation techniques can be learned relatively easily and practiced anywhere. Building a toolkit of stress management strategies provides options for different situations and preferences.

Establishing Routines and Structure

Predictable routines can provide a sense of stability and control that supports emotional regulation. Regular schedules for meals, sleep, work, and leisure activities can reduce stress and make it easier to maintain healthy habits.

Breaking larger tasks into smaller, manageable steps can prevent feeling overwhelmed. Using planners, reminders, and organizational tools can help manage responsibilities without becoming emotionally flooded.

Limiting Exposure to Triggers

While it's not always possible or advisable to avoid all emotional triggers, identifying and limiting exposure to unnecessary stressors can be helpful. This might include setting boundaries in relationships, limiting news consumption, or avoiding certain social media platforms that tend to trigger negative emotions.

It's important to distinguish between healthy boundary-setting and avoidance that prevents growth. Working with a therapist can help make these distinctions and develop appropriate strategies.

Special Considerations Across the Lifespan

Emotional dysregulation manifests differently at various life stages, and treatment approaches may need to be adapted accordingly.

Children and Emotional Dysregulation

Emotional dysregulation in children presents as intense emotional responses and difficulty managing feelings. They struggle with understanding and expressing emotions appropriately, leading to behaviors like tantrums or withdrawal.

Dysregulation is more prevalent in this age group, and is generally seen to decrease as children develop. During early childhood, emotional dysregulation or reactivity is considered to be situational rather than indicative of emotional disorders. However, persistent emotional dysregulation in children warrants professional evaluation and intervention.

These children can also benefit from a range of caregiver or professionally delivered strategies to address emotional regulation including building emotional literacy, modelling emotional expression, teaching mindfulness and other coping strategies; structured thought-challenging exercises; and activities to build tolerance for strong emotions in the context of safe interpersonal relationships.

Adolescents and Emotional Dysregulation

During adolescence between 13-18 years, emotional dysregulation intensifies due to hormonal changes and social pressures. The teenage years are a particularly vulnerable period, as the brain is still developing and adolescents face increasing social and academic demands.

About up to one-third of children and adolescents seeking clinical mental health care are affected by emotion dysregulation, which can lead to psychiatric disorders later in life. Early intervention during adolescence can prevent the development of more serious mental health conditions in adulthood.

Adults and Emotional Dysregulation

Adults exhibit more refined emotion regulation skills, employing adaptive problem-solving and emotional acceptance strategies. They tend to have greater emotional clarity and access to coping mechanisms. However, emotional regulation usually develops in childhood, emotional dysregulation isn't only about missing early skills. It can also appear later in life after trauma or certain mental or physical health conditions.

Adults with emotional dysregulation may have developed compensatory strategies that mask their difficulties, making it harder to recognize the problem. They may also face unique challenges related to work responsibilities, parenting, and relationship commitments that can be disrupted by emotional dysregulation.

The Path Forward: Hope and Healing

While emotional dysregulation can feel overwhelming and all-encompassing, it's important to remember that change is possible. The brain retains a degree of plasticity, meaning that with the right interventions—such as therapy, mindfulness, and emotional support—individuals can rewire neural pathways and develop healthier emotional regulation strategies.

Recovery from emotional dysregulation is rarely linear. There will be setbacks and challenges along the way. However, with persistence, support, and appropriate treatment, individuals can develop significantly improved emotional regulation skills and experience meaningful improvements in their quality of life.

When to Seek Professional Help

The good news is that recognizing the signs of dysregulation is the first step in finding an effective treatment plan to help you manage your feelings and achieve your goals. If emotional dysregulation is interfering with your relationships, work, health, or overall well-being, it's time to seek professional help.

If you're concerned that you may have mood lability or emotional regulation problems, visit your doctor or a licensed mental health professional. A mental health professional can conduct a comprehensive assessment, identify any underlying conditions, and develop a personalized treatment plan.

Don't wait until you're in crisis to seek help. Early intervention can prevent the escalation of symptoms and the development of additional complications. If you are in crisis, call 911. You can also call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Building Resilience and Long-Term Wellness

Managing emotional dysregulation is not just about reducing negative symptoms—it's also about building positive emotional experiences and resilience. This includes cultivating gratitude, engaging in activities that bring joy and meaning, nurturing relationships, and developing a sense of purpose.

Self-compassion is particularly important. Many people with emotional dysregulation are highly self-critical, which only exacerbates their difficulties. Learning to treat yourself with the same kindness and understanding you would offer a good friend can be transformative.

Setting realistic expectations is also crucial. Emotional regulation is a skill that takes time to develop, and perfection is neither possible nor necessary. The goal is progress, not perfection—to gradually expand your capacity to manage emotions effectively and to recover more quickly when you do become dysregulated.

Conclusion: Embracing the Journey Toward Emotional Balance

Emotional dysregulation is a complex challenge that affects millions of people, impacting relationships, mental and physical health, work performance, and overall quality of life. Understanding that emotional dysregulation often stems from a combination of childhood experiences, neurobiological factors, mental health conditions, and environmental stressors can help reduce shame and self-blame while pointing toward effective interventions.

The research is clear: emotional dysregulation is treatable. Evidence-based therapies like Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and trauma-focused approaches have helped countless individuals develop better emotional regulation skills. Combined with lifestyle modifications, self-help strategies, and when appropriate, medication, these approaches offer real hope for meaningful change.

Whether you're struggling with emotional dysregulation yourself or supporting someone who is, remember that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. With the right support, tools, and commitment, it's possible to develop healthier relationships with your emotions, build more satisfying relationships, and create a life characterized by greater stability, fulfillment, and well-being.

The journey toward better emotional regulation may be challenging, but it's also profoundly worthwhile. Every step you take toward understanding and managing your emotions is an investment in your future health, happiness, and potential. You don't have to navigate this journey alone—professional support, peer connections, and evidence-based strategies are available to help you build the emotional regulation skills that will serve you for a lifetime.

For more information on mental health and emotional well-being, visit the National Institute of Mental Health, explore resources at NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), or learn about trauma-informed care at the National Child Traumatic Stress Network. Additional support and information can be found through Psychology Today's therapist directory and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.