All of us feel and experience emotions – negative and positive – each and every day. For some though, feeling these emotions can seem overwhelming. "Emotional regulation” refers to one’s ability to effectively manage and respond to an intense emotional experience. We use emotional regulation strategies to cope with difficult situations on daily basis – some of which are adaptive and healthy and some that may cause harm.

We use emotions to guide us into making the right action. In some instances, when our environment is perceived in a way that is threatening, our emotions may erroneously trigger fight, flight or freeze response. It is crucial to be able to judge when to trust emotional triggers and act on them, and when not to. Emotional regulation helps us filter the most important pieces of information and motivates us to attend to it in a way that wouldn’t evoke stress or fear.

Dr. Krichmar uses a DBT approach to teach her clients self-regulation skills and how to behaviorally anticipate challenges and to respond appropriately and flexibly to address such stressors. By learning how to tolerate uncomfortable feelings and to thoughtfully navigate challenging situations clients can improve their overall life satisfaction.

Additionally, self-regulation is connected to executive functioning. If emotions become too intense, then they will override one’s executive functions. For example, when you feel overwhelmed by a task, emotional stress may trigger behavioral avoidance response. By learning self-regulation strategies, you are more likely to develop self-awareness and thereby can reduce avoidant behaviors such as procrastination.

Some skills that Dr. Krichmar focuses on in helping her clients to gain emotional regulation and use during challenging times in life include:

• Self-awareness
• Mindful awareness
• Cognitive reappraisal
• Adaptability
• Self-compassion
• Self-soothing