Emotional regulation is the ability to manage strong feelings and calm down afterwards. Many neurodivergent people feel emotions very intensely or find it hard to recover from upset, especially when they are overwhelmed.
What you might notice
- Becoming very angry or upset over small problems.
- Taking a long time to calm down.
- Meltdowns that are not deliberate bad behaviour, but a sign of being overwhelmed.
- Worrying a lot about getting things wrong.
How to help
Stay calm and keep your voice low. Reduce noise and demands. Help the person name their feelings. Punishment rarely helps a meltdown; understanding the cause does.