Emotional Dysregulation

Emotional dysregulation is when emotions feel harder to manage — they may come on suddenly, feel overwhelming, or stick around longer than expected.

Everyone experiences emotional highs and lows, but for some people — especially those who are neurodivergent — the nervous system processes emotions differently. That’s not a flaw. It’s just a different way of responding to the world.

Emotional dysregulation might look like:

• Sudden frustration or anxiety
• Strong reactions to things that seem “small” to others
• Difficulty calming down after a stressful moment
• Feeling exhausted from emotional effort
• Struggling to explain what you’re feeling in the moment

This can be part of many neurodivergent profiles, including ADHD, autism, or trauma responses. It’s not about being “too sensitive” or “overreacting” — it’s about the brain and body having a different rhythm or intensity when processing emotion.

Understanding emotional dysregulation can open the door to self-awareness and kinder strategies — like building routines, using grounding tools, or finding ways to pause and check in with yourself.