Emotional Regulation

Tantrums and meltdowns are a normal part of childhood development. It is the way in which our children (with immature brains) communicate their discontent with a particular event or response. Between ages 1-4 years of age, emotional meltdowns tend to spike. At this stage of development, the region of the brain that experiences fear and emotion is much more active and developed than the region of the brain involved in reasoning. However by age 5, children are starting to develop more skills in complex reasoning and thus, have a better control over emotional regulation. 

Often, parents wonder… What’s normal? 

While this isn’t a comprehensive list, a few “RED FLAGS” include: 

• Tantrums that last > 25 minutes the majority of the time 
• Frequent (>3/week)  tantrums > 5 years of age 
• Regular aggressive behavior towards others during the tantrum (kicking, biting, etc)
• Self-harm behaviors (headbanging, hand-biting, self-mutilation) 
• Difficulty calming down after a tantrum 
• Greater than 5 tantrums per day 

This may mean that your child is having difficulty regulating his emotions due to an underlying imbalance. 

In our practice, we believe an emotional response is controlled by two main factors: 

1. Psychological Factors: This encompasses the emotional trigger and ingrained belief systems by which we interpret that trigger.

For Example: The trigger may be “Mom told me I can’t have a cookie.” The belief system might be “Mom thinks I’m a bad kid for wanting a cookie.”

2. Physiological Factor:  Physiological factors are internal regulators that control how strongly we may experience any given emotion. This is principally controlled by our neurotransmitter balance; however, a large number of other factors, including: gut health, environmental exposures, inflammation, nutrient status, and genetics may influence this balance. This is the main differentiator in why two children from the same household may respond entirely differently to the same trigger.  

For Example: When the children are told they need to leave the park, the first child may kick and scream all the way to the car, while the second child shows disappointment but ultimately can be refocused towards the next activity for the day. 

In our practice, we focus on identifying and treating PHYSIOLOGICAL factors that impair emotional regulation.

Gastrointestinal Dysbiosis…

Gastrointestinal Dysbiosis (particularly, yeast and clostridia overgrowth) 

There is a well-known gut-brain axis, whereby the gut microbiome has been found to play a profound role in brain development and mental health. Birth via c-section, formula use,  antibiotic use, diet, as well as other environmental toxin exposures have well known negative impacts on microbiome development, increasing the risk for overgrowth of opportunistic species. The two most common species that negatively influence emotional regulation in children are yeast and clostridia overgrowth. 

Symptoms of Yeast Overgrowth:

• Anxiety
• Rigid tendencies
• Sensory seeking behaviors- including stimming
• Super silly behaviors
• Seemling out of It or brain fog
• Cravings for starches or sweets 
• Laughing for no reason 
• Climbing, standing on head, and hanging upside down
• Hyperactivity 
• Difficult diaper rashes 
• Eczema
• Typically constipation, but may have loose stools
• Perianal or genital itching 
• Persistent cradle cap 
• Symptoms of Clostridia Overgrowth:
• Emotional outbursts 
• Extreme mood swings 
• Rage and aggression 
• Paranoia 
• Autistic behaviors 
• Poor concentration and focus 
• Daytime fatigue 
• Typically loose stools, but may be constipated
• Emotional eating 
• Change in mood post antibiotic use 

Imbalanced Nutrients…

Pyrrole Disorder: Pyrrole disorder is a condition aggravated by stress, whereby an individual creates an excessive amount of Kryptopyrroles. We all produce Kryptopyrroles during hemoglobin synthesis, but some individuals are genetically wired to produce more, especially when under stress. Kryptopyrroles themselves are not harmful to the body, but excretion of them causes B6 and Zinc depletion. Because B6 and Zinc are extremely important cofactors in the production and metabolism of several key neurotransmitters, this can result in significant mood imbalances. The symptoms of a pyrrole disorder are most dramatic in children and adolescents, and result in extreme mood swings in response to a relatively small stressor, sensitivities to lights/sounds/odors, higher irritability, and difficulty with short term memory. Other things to look out for include white spots on fingernails, morning nausea, restricted appetite, frequent illness, and little or no dream recall.

Copper Overload: While copper overload can affect anyone, it is an extremely common cause of  behavior outbursts in younger children and emotional lability in females during hormonal shifts. Copper overload causes low dopamine and higher norepinephrine, resulting in lack of pleasure, anxiety, panic attacks, episodic rage, sleep issues, and more. Copper and zinc compete for absorption, so with high levels of free copper, there are often also signs of zinc deficiency. 

Undermethylation: Undermethylation leads to a deficiency in methyl groups, which is a molecular compound necessary for many biochemical processes within the body. Undermethylation is often associated with symptoms of low serotonin and high histamine. Common symptoms of undermethylation include perfectionistic tendencies, rigid nature, ritualistic or OCD behaviors, addictive tendencies, difficulties with detoxification, and increased propensity for allergies and headaches.

Low B6 or Magnesium:  B6 and Magnesium are some of the most researched nutrients in supporting mood related disorders, as they have a profound impact on Serotonin, Dopamine, and GABA. One of the most notable pathways influenced by  B6 and magnesium is the metabolism of glutamate (an excitatory neurotransmitter implicated in episodic rage, depression, and panic attacks) into GABA (a calming neurotransmitter).

Low Cholesterol…

The brain has the highest concentration of cholesterol in the body, and there is a well established relationship between cholesterol levels and brain function. Within the brain, cholesterol has four main functions:

• Acts as an antioxidant-sequestering free radicals to reduce damage
• Insulation: the highest amount of cholesterol in the brain is found in the myelin sheath, the covering that wraps and protects each nerve cell. 
• Barrier: cholesterol forms part of the cell membrane, giving the cell structure and controlling what passes in an out of the cell (including toxins). 
• Firing of Neurotransmitters: Cholesterol plays a role in ensuring appropriate firing of neurotransmitters at the nerve cell synapse.

Brain Inflammation…

Extensive research now shows a strong connection between neuroinflammation and mood alterations. Inflammation has most notably been linked to glutamate disturbances, with subsequent alterations in memory, emotions, and cognition. Alterations in glutamate have been found in a myriad of psychological disorders, including:  bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, aggressive behavior, eating disorders, and OCD. 

Toxicity…

Toxicity (particularly, mold and heavy metals)

• Certain toxins are now implicated as a contributing factor to mood disorders, and these include heavy metals and mycotoxins from mold exposure. 
• Heavy metals, including lead and mercury, create oxidative damage and inflammation within the brain, and have been implicated in mood disorders and brain damage. Furthermore, heavy metals have been shown to alter the absorption of other key minerals which are believed to benefit mood, including zinc, magnesium, selenium, and manganese. 
• Mold exposure and the associated toxins produced from mold  is an up and coming concern, which has now been implicated in various brain based disorders, including aspects of emotional regulation. While we are all exposed to some degree of mold within our day to day life, many of us living in a potentially toxic mold environment unaware.