This morning I wanted to flush my kid down the toilet, it was just one of those mornings. It made me realize that while last week we had a great chat about reactive regulation, it was a bit heavy on the theory vs practical application. I'm extending that conversation today to share some real life examples of how I use these tools in my everyday life, how I used them this morning with my son. So, here's Part 6 of my Back to the Basics Series.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- How a challenging morning with a 4-year-old demonstrates simple regulation techniques that prevent reactive parenting
- Using activating breathwork to overcome the 2pm energy slump instead of reaching for caffeine
- Navigating grief with grounding techniques that help process emotions without becoming overwhelmed
- The three ways reactive regulation tools support us: physiologically shifting our state, creating awareness and pause, and building confidence and agency
3 Takeaways (about why reactive tools work). It’s because…
- They can directly impact your physiology - Breath work, movement, temperature changes, and vision exercises actually shift your autonomic nervous system state.
- They help us create awareness and pause - Even if you don't shift states completely, the simple act of noticing and pausing creates space between stimulus and response. That morning with my child, I still felt frustrated, but the pause allowed me to respond intentionally rather than react automatically.
- They build confidence and agency - Having these tools counters the helplessness that often comes with dysregulation. Instead of "I don't know what to do," you begin to think, "I have tools I can try." This builds a sense of agency over time.
Next Episode Preview: Next week, we will move on to proactive regulation and explore how creating a more regulated life sets the stage for long-term healing and well-being.
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