Dysregulate

A loss of emotional regulation where emotional arousal has reached a point where a person is unable to control or manage the experience. For a dysregulating child, fear becomes terror, anger becomes rage, and sadness becomes despair.  Without help from an adult, this state may further lead to feeling anxious. This may induce acting in an avoidant or controlling way to manage feelings that her inner life is so out of control.  Consequently the child may struggle to make sense of her or other’s actions.