Meltdown! We’re hanging around “our kids” with ADHD and Autism. Behavior goes up. Then it’s sIowly down. Yelling. Crying. As a former teacher, I’ve got this long enough to know the issue. It’s called emotional self-regulation.
Emotional-control is the ability to respond to ongoing intense demands. It establishes a range of emotional experiences in socially tolerable behavior. The first step is to discover a flexible, spontaneous reaction to others. Giving is intrinsic or extrinsic and effective in a broader sense.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Behavior is an emotional lability of diagnosis.
- Frequent temper outbursts.
- Rapid mood changes.
- Tendency to be frustrated if demands are not met.
ADHD
- Cluster of symptoms.
- Frustration and impatience.
- Quick bursts of outbursts reaction.
- Defiant emotional self-regulation (DBSR).
Anita’s Story
Traveling on the WayBack Machine…
Ahhh…What happened? I’m a certified math teacher. So why am I teaching English? I’ll ask my mentor. What’d she say? “You can control any group of students.” True.
Year 1 was impossible. Year 2 was worse. Fortunately I was a special education teacher. I loved “my kids.” Anita was one of my students in my caseload. She was proud and smart. She stomped over, proudly saying “I have Autism. I don’t speak English either.”
Anita worked harder than anyone else. I hated to grade her papers. “I’ll try harder” was her standard answer. She did. Anita got a C. She earned a C. Talk about happiness.
I met Anita’s mother. I couldn’t wait to talk to them. I learned how to speak “ugly Spanish.” Smiling, I said. “Guess what Anita wants to do when she grows up?”
To be continued…
More than 50% of people with ADHD have trouble controlling emotion. Research on adults yields similar results. Their state of behavior identifies difficulties in the broader set of emotions and limited regulation of their own feelings. They also show difficulty in regulation of other’s feelings.
Seek Outside Help
Teens and young adults with ADHD and Autism exhibit poor emotional control. Anxiety and irritability lead the pack. It pops up at school and at home. Avoid criticism. Be clear about what you mean.
Being out of emotional control has a broad impact on “our kids.” Financial success moves/becomes more difficult with age. Work and personal interpersonal skills too. Especially as specially as stress increases.
- Talk about feelings.
- Practice deep breathing.
- Model emotional regulation.
- Practice self-soothing.
- Provide as much consistency as possible.
Solutions for Individuals
Teenagagers and young adults with ADHD and Autism might seem to be children. The reality is that they have emotions. They might be hidden, but they’re there. Fortunately, there are strategies that they can work on independently.
- Try meditation.
- Give yourself some space.
- Keep a mood journal.
- Know when to excess yourself.
- Aim for regulation, not repression.
Emotional-control takes control of overall health, not just emotions. Lack of control has been linked to overall well-being. Therapy is often suggested. Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) has been shown to be helpful in the treatment of anxiety.
“Our kids” are known for their intensity and passions. Interventions center around self-knowldge. Feel your feelings. Look at the impact through self-thought. Accept your emotions, all of them. In time, success will come.
Question: What emotion is your biggest challenge?
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