--- title: 'Trouble with self-regulation: What to know' description: What is self-regulation, and why do people with sensory processing issues and ADHD struggle with it? Read about self-regulation skills and strategies. slug: trouble-with-self-regulation-what-you-need-to-know author: Amanda Morin reviewer: Ellen Braaten, PhD published: '2019-08-05T15:05:32.068Z' thumbnail: https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/1uZ2l5idGgojvrGFAb1bn7/1be84b8b8c46302e7b41faa3fc24677f/Enhance60_1200x900_thumbnail_UnderstoodTroubleWithSelf-Regulation-WhatYouNeedtoKnow.png source_url: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/trouble-with-self-regulation-what-you-need-to-know lang: en --- # Trouble with self-regulation: What to know Self-regulation is a skill that allows people to manage their emotions, behavior, and body movement when they’re faced with a tough situation. It also allows them to do that while staying focused and paying attention. Lots of kids and adults struggle with self-regulation. They act impulsively in an emotional situation. And after the fact, they can say what they should have done instead. It’s easy to confuse self-regulation with [self-control](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/self-control-what-it-means-for-kids). They’re related, but they’re not the same. Self-control is mainly a social skill. Self-regulation, on the other hand, is like a thermostat. A thermostat kicks on or off to keep a room at a certain temperature, or a “set point.” It tracks temperature changes, compares them to the set point, and “knows” whether to heat or cool the room. We all have a self-regulation set point. To maintain that level of control, we need to: - Keep track of changes in our environment - Assess how we’re feeling and reacting - Compare it to our set point - Adjust to get back to that point Self-regulation is a skill that develops over time. People who struggle with it have trouble figuring out what will help them calm down when they get upset. They have a hard time being flexible when things change and might react with [frustrated outbursts](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/the-difference-between-tantrums-and-meltdowns). It all has to do with how people process information that comes in from their senses. --- ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/trouble-with-self-regulation-what-you-need-to-know#webpage","url":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/trouble-with-self-regulation-what-you-need-to-know","description":"What is self-regulation, and why do people with sensory processing issues and ADHD struggle with it? Read about self-regulation skills and strategies."},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/trouble-with-self-regulation-what-you-need-to-know","name":"Trouble with self-regulation: What to know"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Article","datePublished":"2019-08-05T15:05:32.068Z","description":"What is self-regulation, and why do people with sensory processing issues and ADHD struggle with it? Read about self-regulation skills and strategies.","headline":"Trouble with self-regulation: What to know","url":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/trouble-with-self-regulation-what-you-need-to-know","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.understood.org/#organization","name":"Understood for All Inc","logo":"https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/307jFAYQevghG8nQMCjh89/ccdbbec895765824db43f6d30b496e83/logo_lockup_navy.jpg"}}] ```