Take a deep breath with me for a moment. If you’re reading this, you’re likely living with a daily reality that feels overwhelming: constant emotional outbursts, intense mood swings, heartbreaking meltdowns, struggles with anger, and a child who seems to have no impulse control. For many parents of children with emotional dysregulation, this isn’t just a bad day – it’s every day.
It’s a type of story we have seen at One Family many times before. Parents come to us desperately searching for answers. They’ve consulted countless specialists – teachers, therapists, doctors – hoping someone would have the solution. They’ve tried everything you can think of: reward charts, punishment systems, essential oils, deep breathing techniques, supplements – the list goes on and on. They’ve even reached what felt like your last resort – turning to medications for anxiety, depression, or ADHD.
One of our moms says: “We needed a solution! We were desperate to get out of the storm of emotions my son and I were both feeling.” Luckily, she and others have found care that addressed the root of her child’s challenges, not just something to mask the symptoms, and they have seen life changing results.
A Different Understanding of Your Child’s Struggles
Here’s something that might change everything about how you view your child’s struggles: the root cause of emotional dysregulation often lies within the brain and nervous system, but not in the way you might have been told. This isn’t just about a “chemical imbalance” – it’s about understanding your child’s nervous system from a functional standpoint.
When your child’s nervous system becomes overstressed, imbalanced, and dysregulated, their emotions and behavior naturally follow suit. And here’s the most important thing to remember: this isn’t simply a genetic condition or a reflection of your parenting. The root cause may be simpler and more straightforward than you think.
Understanding the Nervous System Connection
The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) controls emotional responses through two key branches:
- The sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight)
- The parasympathetic nervous system (rest, regulate, and digest)
So you can think of your child’s nervous system like a car with a sensitive gas pedal and brake system. When working properly, it can smoothly accelerate and brake as needed. But sometimes, due to various factors, it can get stuck in “high gear” – what we call a sympathetic dominant state or “fight-or-flight” mode. This imbalance and overactive state is known as dysautonomia and nervous system dysregulation.
The “Perfect Storm”: How Did We Get Here?
Several factors can contribute to nervous system dysregulation:
- Early life stress, including maternal stress during pregnancy
- Birth interventions like C-sections, forceps, or vacuum extraction
- The overuse of antibiotics and other medications, plus environmental toxins and poor diet, which disrupts the microbiome and gut-brain connection
Together, these factors create neurological imbalances, leading to emotional dysregulation.
Beyond Traditional Approaches
While behavioral strategies and medications have their place, they often only mask the symptoms rather than the underlying root cause. That’s why many parents find that even when medications help calm their child’s symptoms, they’re still searching for a more complete solution – a neurologically-focused one that addresses the root cause of their child’s challenges – which is needed for lasting change.
Finding Hope and Solutions
The good news is that understanding this nervous system connection opens up new possibilities for helping your child. Just as the nervous system can become dysregulated, it can also be guided back into balance through appropriate support and care.
Some key things to consider:
- Your child’s behavior isn’t a reflection of poor parenting or a lack of discipline
- These challenges aren’t simply something they’ll “grow out of”
- There are ways to measure and address nervous system imbalances
- A comprehensive approach that considers the whole nervous system can make a real difference
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your child’s emotional dysregulation, remember that you’re not alone, and there is hope. Let’s go back to the mom we heard from at the beginning, a mom desperately searching for answers to her son’s dysregulation. This family has now gone through months of care with us at One Family and seen firsthand the impacts a nervous system based approach can have.
Her words say it best: “The anger, frustration and response to irritation is completely different. No more throwing, no more episodes where I don’t “recognize my child”. When he’s upset it’s a more ‘normal’ response…. AND where he never used to apologize, he now without being promoted will recognize when he’s lost his temper or acted disrespectful. He recovers from frustration SO much faster. He has longer stretches of getting along with his siblings.”
At One Family Chiropractic, we understand that the nervous system’s role is often the first step toward finding an effective solution for your children, and we would love to help! We use cutting-edge technology called INSiGHT Scans that allow us to pinpoint, measure, and find subluxation, sympathetic dominance, and nervous system dysregulation that may be causing your child’s emotional dysregulation. Remember, your child’s emotional struggles aren’t your fault, and seeking help isn’t a sign of failure – it’s a sign of love and commitment to your child’s wellbeing. If this resonates with your current situation, don’t hesitate to reach out to us! We would love to be on your team and celebrate what is possible for your child!
