Emotions

Why is it so important for us to be able to regulate or manage our emotions?

To understand this, we first need to ask what are emotions? At first this may seem a simple question, but it can also be complex. Emotions can be defined as feelings that are experienced in response to different situations. They affect the way we think, interact with others and behave. Sometimes they make us feel good like when we are happy or excited. Sometimes they don’t feel so good such as when we are frustrated or angry.

What happens if someone is unable to interpret how someone else is feeling or voice their own feelings?

When some children and teenagers become either distressed or overwhelmed, they may not be able to manage their emotions resulting in behaviours that others may interpret as being disruptive or even inappropriate to the situation. Tiredness and hunger can affect our emotions and our ability to manage them. Though typically developing children and teenagers will generally develop better control of their own emotions and not demonstrate “melt downs” as they get older, others who experience conditions such as Autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Oppositional Defiant Disorder may find it more challenging to manage their emotions especially when stressed or in new situations. This may impact their ability to form and maintain friendships with their peers, engage in daily activities, maintain concentration, and their ability to learn may also be affected. Thus, impacting on self-confidence and resilience.

At OTSM we work with children/teenagers and their families. we and strategies that address the following areas:

-          Emotional awareness

-          Self-regulation

-          Understanding social cues

-          Social skill development

-          Managing meltdowns

-          Resilience

-          Transitioning between activities

-          Improving concentration and increasing learning opportunities.

If you have any questions or would like to book a consultation, please do not hesitate to contact me at info@otsm.com.au

Thank you for visiting this blog! And remember to stay tuned for next week.