{"id":3276,"date":"2013-12-16T14:08:33","date_gmt":"2013-12-16T19:08:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/njcts.org\/tsparents\/?p=3276"},"modified":"2013-12-16T14:08:33","modified_gmt":"2013-12-16T19:08:33","slug":"emotional-dysregulation-just-like-regular-kids-but-only-moreso","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/njcts.org\/tsparents\/emotional-dysregulation-just-like-regular-kids-but-only-moreso\/","title":{"rendered":"Emotional dysregulation: Just like regular kids, but only moreso!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ken Shyminsky<\/a>, <\/strong>a former vice president of the Greater Toronto Chapter of the Tourette Syndrome Foundation of Canada<\/strong><\/a>, draws upon his personal experiences as an teacher and student with Tourette Syndrome to help children with TS and related disorders. He also has Tourette himself and is the founder of the website Neurologically Gifted<\/strong><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

A very dear friend and expert special educator insists that kids who have neurological disorder\u00a0are just like regular kids …<\/p>\n

only moreso!<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Let me explain what that confusing statement means\u2026<\/p>\n

Kids who have neurological disorders have feelings just like everyone else, except their feelings\u00a0are so much more intense. They feel so much more of everything. They experience more joy when happy,\u00a0<\/span>(hence their hyperactivity), they feel more pain when injured (we think they\u2019re over-reacting),\u00a0<\/span>more anger when frustrated or disappointed (leading to rage) and more sadness (also misinterpreted as over-reacting).<\/span><\/p>\n

\"EmotionalThis evening, my stepson erupted into a fit of screaming and pounding the floor in a rage over\u00a0homework, to total recovery and calm. Soon after, he collapsed into a heap of tears as he suddenly recalled the death of his grandmother the previous year.<\/span><\/p>\n

The intense grief lasted about 2\u00a0<\/span>minutes, and he recovered once again, to join his friends in playing basketball. <\/span>I shouldn\u2019t be surprised by his behavior tonight. He was bound to fall from perfection at some\u00a0point. He\u2019s been stable and even tempered for months \u2013 and it\u2019s because of consistency at home\u00a0<\/span>and at school. <\/span><\/p>\n

Kids with neurological disorders are incredibly susceptible to change, as we\u00a0<\/span>all are …
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

only moreso!<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Change has an affect on us all, to varying degrees. Some people abhor\u00a0<\/span>surprises, which is just another name for change. Kids with neuro-chemical disorders often fall\u00a0apart in these circumstances that arise from change.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Emotional dysregulation can be observed as intense or extreme emotional responses to a situation, aggression,\u00a0impulsivity, avoiding behaviors, difficulty calming themselves and difficulty knowing what emotion\u00a0<\/span>they are actually feeling and especially, drastic changes in mood.<\/span><\/p>\n

My stepson\u2019s chemistry and subsequent emotional state is totally dysregulated today for any\u00a0number of reasons. From my own personal Tourette experience, I know he could be <\/span>unconsciously reacting to the onset of the Canadian winter \u2013 with a reduction of daylight hours\u00a0and cold temperatures.<\/span><\/p>\n

This always messed me up. It still does, sometimes. When his chemistry\u00a0<\/span>is thrown into flux like this, Nathan\u2019s behavior is erratic and (almost) manic. He can swing from\u00a0<\/span>one extreme mood to another. As well, he is dealing with another ill family member. Although\u00a0<\/span>he seems calm, he is very prone to experiencing a quick thought of concern, then bursting into\u00a0<\/span>tears from a memory of his late grandmother.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"EmotionalBy keeping Nathan\u2019s life consistent, we greatly reduce the occurrence of mood swings and emotional dysregulation. At times\u00a0of change, it is important to stay connected to any consistency and predictability you can find. For example, on a\u00a0<\/span>trip during the holidays, we can expect Nathan to be extremely dysregulated and prone to mood swings.<\/span><\/p>\n

His normal routine of waking, going to school, coming home and going to bed ceases. In these cases, we keep eating and bed times consistent. We maintain\u00a0sleep hygiene so he can slowly unwind and fall asleep at a reasonable time using his normal bedtime routine.<\/span><\/p>\n

We give him ample warning of the plan of each day with frequent recaps and updates to give him time to process\u00a0the upcoming schedule and reduce overreaction when the changes happen. \u00a0Rules must be kept consistent, as well. \u00a0<\/span>There are no exceptions such as, \u201cjust this one time\u201d, or \u201cit\u2019s the holiday\u201d. \u00a0There is no \u201cflying by the seat of\u00a0<\/span>our pants\u201d with our Nathan.<\/span><\/p>\n

Keeping Calm<\/h1>\n

Meltdowns from emotional dysregulation can be minimized by maintaining routines, maximizing predictability,\u00a0planning ahead, advanced warning of change and consistent rules. <\/span>For the times when dysregulation occurs, (and it will), it is helpful to keep in mind that kids with neurological differences actually do feel more, and they respond more. \u00a0They are just like regular kids …
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

only moreso!<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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