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Emotional Dysregulation, Self-Harm, and Suicidal Thinking

Emotional dysregulation happens when emotions feel too big to manage and a child or teen has a hard time coping. Think of a time when you felt completely overwhelmed—like your emotions took over and even small things became too much. That same experience can happen to kids and teens, especially as they learn how to handle stress, take on more responsibilities, and adjust to the big changes that come with growing up.

When a child is emotionally dysregulated, it can affect many parts of their life—school, friendships, sports, and home life. You might notice frequent outbursts, intense mood swings, or deep sadness that doesn’t seem to go away. For some kids, these struggles can escalate and lead to self-harm, suicidal thoughts, or difficulty coping with everyday challenges.

As a parent, watching your child go through this can feel heartbreaking and confusing. You want to help, but it’s hard to know where to start. Therapy can provide a supportive space where your child or teen learns how to understand and manage their emotions. With the right tools, they can feel more in control, improve their relationships, and begin to thrive.

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How We Help Kids and Teens Manage Emotional Dysregulation

At Ballard Clinic, our skilled therapists support children and teens in learning how to better understand and manage their emotions. When kids feel more in control on the inside, it often leads to more success and ease in their daily lives—at home, at school, and in relationships. Our therapists bring a calming, supportive presence to each session which helps create a safe space where your child can practice new skills, explore their emotions, and feel truly seen and supported. 

When working with our clients to develop better emotion regulation, we use evidence-based approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), which help kids recognize unhelpful thought patterns, identify emotional triggers, and build practical coping skills. These tools empower them to respond more calmly and confidently when life feels overwhelming.

Without support, severe emotional dysregulation can sometimes become more concerning, possibly leading to self-harm and/or suicidal thinking. Early intervention can make a meaningful difference—and we’re here to help your child build the tools they need to thrive.

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Suicidal ideation refers to thoughts or ideas about death or suicide. These thoughts differ from suicidal behavior, as they don't always involve an intention to act. Contrary to common belief, suicidal ideation is fairly common—many people occasionally think about death or suicide passively. However, when someone is experiencing intense emotional dysregulation, suicidal ideation can move beyond passive thoughts into a more active or distressing state.

If you suspect your child is experiencing suicidal ideation, it can be deeply upsetting and frightening. Our therapists at the Ballard Clinic are highly trained in suicidal risk assessment and can help your child navigate these thoughts and reduce risk. If suicidal thoughts remain passive, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is frequently used to help address these thoughts before they escalate. If the thoughts are more urgent, therapists will create safety plans with clients to reduce risk.


SUICIDAL IDEATION

SELF-HARM (or nonsuicidal self-injury)

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Self-harm is another potential outcome of emotional dysregulation and can often accompany suicidal ideation. Self-harm involves intentionally causing physical pain to oneself, often to cope with emotional distress. The forms of self-harm can vary, but common examples include cutting, burning, hitting, or rubbing/scratching the skin. Some reasons a teen might self-harm is to physically ground themselves or release emotional pain. Since emotional pressure is intangible, self-harm offers a way to express that pressure in a tangible manner. In some cases, self-harm serves as a way to communicate internal pain by visibly showing it to others.


Warning Signs of Self-Harm:

While not always easy to detect, common signs of self-harm may include:
  • Sudden changes in clothing style—such as switching from tight-fitting clothing to baggy or concealing clothes—wearing long sleeves or pants in inappropriate weather or settings.
  • Spending long periods of time alone or in the bathroom, or showing new marks on the skin that can't be easily explained or have odd explanations.

While self-harm is usually not life-threatening, it can still lead to serious consequences, such as unintended severe injuries or infections. Therapists at the Ballard Clinic work with clients who use self-harm as a way to cope with emotional dysregulation to identify triggers and develop healthier coping strategies. Like other interventions for emotional dysregulation, common treatments include CBT, mindfulness, psychoeducation, and safety planning.

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We are experts in helping children, adolescents, ​young adults, and families.