Chapter Fifteen: Self-Regulation - Controlling Internal Pressures
Neurodiverse teens require extra support and patience to develop self-regulation skills, as their brains process emotions, attention, and impulses differently, making everyday challenges like transitions and emotional control much harder than for neurotypical peers

Key Takeaways for Parents/Caregivers

Internal Control Center
Self-regulation is like an internal control center, coordinating emotional, cognitive, and physiological responses to both internal and external demands

Process Information Differently
Neurodiverse children (with FASD, ASD, ADHD, or trauma histories) process information differently, making self-regulation more challenging and energy-intensive than for neurotypical peers

Neurological Differences
Emotional dysregulation often looks like “bad behavior” but is rooted in neurological differences, not intentional defiance

Common Symptoms
Common symptoms of self-regulation challenges include overreacting to minor frustrations, mood swings, slow recovery after upset, and difficulty calming down

Not Simple Stubbornness
Difficulty with transitions and shifting attention is not simply stubbornness; it results from struggles with mental flexibility and processing change

Impulsive Responses
Impulse control struggles are common—neurodiverse teens may experience a delay between thought and the ability to inhibit action, leading to impulsive responses

Prevelance of Self-Regulation Challenges
Self-regulation challenges are highly prevalent: over 50% of children with ADHD and four times as many children with ASD face serious emotional regulation difficulties compared to neurotypical peers

Early Diagnosis
Early diagnosis, strength-based approaches, and consistent interventions can significantly improve outcomes in academic performance and social relationships

Emotion Chart not Sticker Chart
Emotion charts help teens identify and communicate their feelings, building self-awareness and emotional vocabulary

Brain Regions
Social and emotional regulation are as important as practical skills for independence.

Executive Funtion Deficits
Executive function deficits (planning, working memory, inhibition) make it harder for neurodiverse teens to pause, process, and plan before reacting

Affect Regulation
Affect regulation acts as an emotional thermostat, helping balance emotional intensity; sensitive thermostats can lead to big reactions or shutdowns
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Recommended Readings
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