We have worked with hundreds of children that exhibit emotional behavioral meltdowns and have helped them develop the proper wiring in their brain and proper thought patterns to begin engaging in more adaptive patterns of functioning.
In the following articles, we want to explore:
What emotional meltdowns are
How the brain influences emotional meltdowns
Specific challenges we see with students struggling with emotional meltdowns
What are examples of Emotional Meltdowns?
If a child erupts quickly over seemingly minor events, displays a high degree of irritability, or heavily withdraws from others, then he or she may be experiencing emotional or behavioral meltdowns. We want you to know there is hope!
Meltdowns Stemming From Self-Regulation
Self-regulation is the ability to utilize internal strategies in order to act in a mindful and intentional way. Often when a child lacks self-regulation, they may display disproportionate and disruptive emotionality or behaviorally, as he or she is unable to act in a mindful and intentional way. In the child’s mind, he or she is truly experiencing a given moment through the perception of it being life-threatening. Therefore, they go into fight or flight behaviors as a result, regardless if the moment actually warrants that reaction. A meltdown ensues.
Diagnoses Associated With Emotional Meltdowns
Oftentimes, your child may even have received a specific diagnosis because of these emotional behavioral meltdowns such as Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder, Major Depression, Intermittent Explosive Disorder, or Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
What's Next?
Interested in learning how the brain influences emotional meltdowns? Click here for Part 2.