3/5 Big Emotions: The Science of Neurodivergent Regulation

Emotional dysregulation is often dismissed as being “too sensitive,” “overreacting,” or “dramatic.” But research shows that for many individuals with ADHD and autism, differences in emotion regulation are neurologically grounded.

This week, DNA will explore the science behind emotional dysregulation in neurodivergent populations, focusing specifically on ADHD and autism.

We’ll discuss:

• What emotional regulation actually means in neuroscience

• Why ADHD is increasingly understood as a disorder of self-regulation, not just attention

• How emotion regulation differences present in autism

• The link between executive function and emotional control

• Why stress and burnout amplify emotional intensity

• Practical strategies supported by research

Key literature grounding this discussion:

• Shaw, P., Stringaris, A., Nigg, J., & Leibenluft, E. (2014). Emotion dysregulation in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. American Journal of Psychiatry, 171(3), 276–293. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2013.13070966

• Mazefsky, C. A., Herrington, J., Siegel, M., Scarpa, A., Maddox, B., Scahill, L., & White, S. W. (2013). The role of emotion regulation in autism spectrum disorder. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 52(7), 679–688. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2013.05.006

• Bunford, N., Evans, S. W., & Wymbs, F. (2015). ADHD and emotion dysregulation among children and adolescents. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 18(3), 185–217. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10567-015-0187-5