On Sunday evening my daughter came home from a birthday party in floods of tears. She was inconsolable, struggling for nearly ten minutes to even get her words out. My mind ran through all the possible dramas - had she fallen out with the friend? Been left out of a game? Someone bullying her at school? Finally, through sobs, the cause of her intense emotional upheaval emerged: she wished it had been a sleepover as she’d had so much fun. Now it did take me a moment to calibrate to the correct scale of human tragedy, from natural disasters on one end to the non-extension of birthday parties at this end. But hey, we are each only living life from our own perspective after all. And in her defence, it was a pretty fun party, and a lovely new friendship that seems to be going really well. Plus she’s 7 of course, and it’s her second late night in a row. I wouldn’t be a Psychologist if I didn’t also consider that there may have been deeper layers, like the fact that she’s just changed schools, or that her closest playmate in our household is six years younger. I guess what struck me most was the fact that a seemingly small trigger had caused such a storm of feelings. I did manage to stay patient and hear my daughter out, but it reminded me of how often I hear my patients talk about how their child also gets intensely distressed about seemingly minor upsets. I can relate to their frustration as well to a degree, since the impatient part of me was yearning for her to be in bed so that I could enjoy a bit of well earned Sunday evening chill time. Since we’re all human, there’s always that part of us that wants to respond in a more impatient or frustrated way, since it’s often the last thing we feel like dealing with in that moment right before bed-time. However, this blog post is about trying to find a more connected, patient, and effective response. The reality of parenting is: our children’s emotions are complex, often overwhelming, and rarely convenient. The way we respond to these moments sets the tone for how our children will learn to navigate their feelings, and whether they will choose us as a trusted guide to help them. Why Staying Calm Is So Hard for Parents When our child is emotionally dysregulated, it’s easy to lose patience. Here are some common reasons: It feels disproportionate. Parents often think, “This isn’t a big deal, it seems so silly- why are you so upset?” or “should we really condone this type of reaction?” Comparison. You might notice other children don’t react as strongly to similar situations. Your own upbringing. Many of us weren’t given much sympathy when upset, so it can feel foreign to offer it now. Fears for the future. Parents sometimes worry, “If my child melts down over this, how will they cope later in life?” Repetition. After dozens of similar upsets, frustration easily builds. Sheer exhaustion. At the end of a long day, patience runs thin, and sometimes you just want quiet. All of these reactions are normal - but if we let them drive our response, we risk escalating the situation, or on a more basic level the missing an opportunity to connect with our child in a difficult moment. Why Calm Matters Getting annoyed or impatient rarely helps. In fact: Anger fuels more upset. Children often cry harder or lash out when they sense their parent’s frustration. It can create shame. Kids may internalize the idea that their emotions are “too much” or “wrong.” It blocks learning. Emotional regulation isn’t taught through lectures or punishment - it’s absorbed through modeling. Staying calm doesn’t mean ignoring your child’s distress, and nor is it about letting the situation get completely beyond your grasp. It means anchoring them while the storm passes. And once it starts to pass, they are much more likely to be receptive if you feel there’s a ‘teachable moment’ to be had. The Ferris Wheel of Emotions I like to imagine emotional processing as a giant Ferris wheel. The climb up: Emotions are building, and distress rises quickly. The peak: This is the most intense part—loud crying, big feelings, sometimes anger. The descent: Once feelings have been acknowledged and validated, the intensity gradually eases until the child feels grounded again. Sometimes you can gently help them come down if they’re struggling to pull themselves back: but other times you won’t need to. Overall the parent’s role is not to fast forward, reverse, or somehow cancel the ride: instead we climb on board, we gently guide things along as needed, and we wait for the cycle to run its course. Practical Up And Down Strategies Trust the cycle. Most intense upsets last 20–30 minutes, not hours. Remind yourself: this will pass. ‘Lean in’ to the emotion. Instead of rushing to calm them, validate their feelings: “You really wanted that climbing frame, didn’t you?” “It feels unfair when someone else has something you wish you had.” Guess if needed. If they won’t tell you what’s wrong, make gentle guesses until you land close to the truth and you might see a few little nods of the head. Respect sensitivity. Some kids are wired more intensely. The upside is they’re often more empathic and perceptive. Research shows that when these children are validated, they often become well-adjusted adults. Guide down gently. Once they’ve been heard (but not before!), you can help them move forward if needed: Suggest a calming strategy (slow breaths, a hug, a drink of water). Offer perspective (e.g. “Remember, we have only just moved in - maybe we’ll get monkey bars one day too”). Transition to the next routine (e.g. bath, bedtime). There does need to be that gentle bit of accountability once it feels realistic and fair to bring it in. Remember “fast is slow.” Trying to rush a child through their feelings often backfires. Paradoxically, patience shortens the process. Final Thoughts Parenting a sensitive, emotional child can feel like a never-ending cycle of ups and downs. But if you can stay calm, validate their feelings, and gently guide them through, you teach your child one of life’s most important lessons: emotions are not to be feared, ignored, or shamed. They are to be understood, accepted, and eventually managed with mastery and self awareness. If you can ‘sit with’ your child’s big emotions you’ll find a more enriching bond and shared understanding. Hopefully they’ll choose to come to you in the difficult moments, trusting that you’ll create an emotionally safe space. So next time you sense another emotional Ferris wheel coming along, try to ride it all the way round - the gains in closeness and emotional maturity will be worth it.
Have you ever noticed how, after spending hours playing your favorite video game or scrolling through social media, it seems like everyday activities like reading, exercise, or even spending time with friends seem dull and unappealing? This phenomenon is often attributed to dopamine downregulation, a complex process that affects our brain's reward system. What is Dopamine Downregulation? Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays a crucial role in motivation, pleasure, and reward processing. When we engage in activities that stimulate dopamine release, such as playing video games or scrolling on social media, our brain associates these activities with pleasure. However, when we overindulge in these activities, our brain adapts by reducing the number of dopamine receptors and altering the expression of certain genes. This process is called downregulation. Why Does the Brain Downregulate Dopamine? The brain's primary goal is to maintain homeostasis, or a stable internal environment. When we repeatedly engage in activities that flood our brain with dopamine, it can disrupt this balance. To compensate, the brain downregulates the dopamine system to prevent overstimulation. Kind of like how a thermostat turns your heater down when the room gets too hot. The Role of Delta FosB One key player in dopamine downregulation is a protein called Delta FosB. When we repeatedly engage in intense ‘quick fix’ rewarding activities, Delta FosB accumulates in the brain's reward centers, such as the nucleus accumbens. This accumulation triggers a series of molecular changes that ultimately lead to a decrease in the sensitivity of the reward system. In other words, our brain becomes less responsive to dopamine, making it more difficult to feel pleasure from everyday activities, as well as a tendency to crave higher doses of the intensively rewarding activities to feel good again (or even just normal). The Spicy Food Analogy Imagine devouring an extremely spicy meal. At first, the intense flavor and heat stimulate your taste buds, giving the experience of an intense flavour. But after repeated exposure to such spicy food, your taste buds become desensitized, and ordinary food seems bland by comparison. Similarly, when we excessively engage in highly dopamine-flooding activities, our brain's reward system becomes overwhelmed, leading to downregulation. The Consequences of Downregulation Downregulation can have significant consequences on our motivation and behavior. When our brain's reward system is downregulated, the more ‘slow burn’ activities that previously brought us steady joy and satisfaction (such as exercising, seeing people, and going outside) may no longer be appealing. This can lead to: Lack of motivation: Everyday activities seem dull and uninteresting, so tend to be harder to get started with. Increased cravings : We may crave more intense or longer bouts of dopamine-stimulating activities to feel pleasure. Mood disturbances : Downregulation can contribute to depression, anxiety, and irritability. Breaking the Cycle Fortunately, there are ways to mitigate the effects of dopamine downregulation: Moderation: Set limits on activities that are highly dopamine-flooding, such as gaming or social media. You can do this gradually rather than making it too jarring Balance and variety: Engage in a variety of activities you enjoy, such as exercising, socializing, being in nature, and creative pursuits. Gradually phase these back in as you phase the dopamine flooding activities out: they’ll start to feel good again soon enough. Mindfulness and self-awareness: Recognize when you're overindulging in dopaminestimulating activities (or just about to) and take steps to rebalance your life. Notice the patterns: were you trying to deal with stress, boredom, or overwhelm? Conclusion Dopamine downregulation is a complex process that can have significant consequences on our motivation and behavior. By understanding the mechanisms behind downregulation, and disentangling the ‘quick fixes’ from the more balanced activities, we can reduce the sense of burnout and cultivate a more fulfilling life.
Most of us have felt the sting of rejection at some point - whether it's a friend drifting away, a date not texting back, or feeling left out in a group. It’s a very human experience. But for some people, this feeling goes deeper and lingers longer. This is known as rejection sensitivity, and it can make social and romantic interactions feel like walking a tightrope. The good news? Often what we perceive as rejection is actually something else entirely: a lack of compatibility. And when we reframe it this way, we can start to feel a lot less anxious and a lot more empowered. Understanding Rejection Sensitivity Rejection sensitivity is more than just a dislike of being left out - it's an intense emotional response that can shape how we think, feel, and behave in relationships. It’s completely normal to want to be accepted. In fact, our ancestors’ survival depended on it. Living in tribes meant that being excluded could literally be life-threatening. So it makes sense that our brains evolved to fear rejection and avoid it where possible. But for some, especially sensitive individuals, this fear can become exaggerated. It often stems from earlier life experiences - perhaps being treated critically or coldly by parents or siblings, facing bullying or social exclusion at school, or going through painful romantic breakups. Over time, the brain starts seeing social situations as dangerous territory. In therapy (particularly Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)) we often talk about the interaction between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. People with rejection sensitivity often hold negative core beliefs like: “I’m boring.” “I’m too much.” “People don’t like me.” “Others are critical or quick to judge.” These beliefs lead to protective behaviours like withdrawing from social situations or ‘playing it safe’ by presenting a bland, edited version of ourselves. Unfortunately, this can become a self-fulfilling prophecy: people don’t get to know the real you, so deep connection doesn’t happen, reinforcing the fear that you’re somehow not enough. But what if rejection wasn’t really about you at all? Reframing Rejection: It’s About Compatibility, Not Your Worth Imagine Mozart performing at a heavy metal concert. If the crowd didn’t love his music, should he feel rejected? Of course not. It’s not that his music is bad - it’s just not compatible with that audience. That’s what’s often happening when we feel rejected: it’s not about our value as a person, it’s about the fit. So here are three practical tips to help you focus less on rejection and more on compatibility: Tip 1: Compatibility Isn’t Universal You don’t need to be loved by everyone - and frankly, trying to be would be exhausting. I often ask clients to imagine going to a house party and talking to 50 different people for five minutes each. How many would they expect to feel an instant connection with? Maybe 5, possibly fewer. Some people you’d click with right away. Others you’d find “just okay.” And some you probably wouldn’t enjoy at all. That’s not a personal failure - it’s just how human chemistry works. Tip 2: Compatibility is Subjective Think of it like listening to 50 random songs on Spotify. A few you’ll love, a few you’ll dislike, and the rest? Just okay. If you skip a song, you're not insulting the artist - you’re just saying it’s not your vibe. It’s the same with people. Just because someone doesn’t “click” with you doesn’t mean you’re boring or flawed. It just means your personalities, interests, or communication styles aren’t the right match. Importantly, people don’t usually reject you as a whole - they’re responding to what you’ve shared so far. And that means there’s always room to explore other points of connection. Tip 3: Compatibility is About Common Ground Think of a conversation like a picnic where both people take turns bringing out snacks. A great conversation happens when both people love what’s on the blanket. But what if you only bring out super safe, generic snacks because you’re afraid the other person won’t like the real you? Or worse, what if you don’t bring anything at all? People with rejection sensitivity often hold back or stick to ‘vanilla’ conversation to avoid risking disapproval. But this limits your chances of finding real compatibility. The more open you are, and the more you pay attention to what the other person is passionate about, the more likely you are to find real points of connection that spark genuine interest for both people. And when it clicks, it feels amazing. Final Thoughts: It’s Not Rejection - It’s Just Not the Right Fit Feeling rejected can hurt. But most of the time, it’s not about your worth as a person - it’s about compatibility. Not everyone can be your favourite person, and the same goes the other way round: and that’s ok, it doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong. Reframing rejection experiences in this way can help you feel freer and braver to be yourself. And that’s where the magic happens - when you start sharing more of the real you, you give others the opportunity to genuinely connect with you. Sometimes it won’t click, and that’s okay. But some times it will - and those are the relationships that truly matter. Let compatibility, rather than fear, be your compass. Because when you find your people, you won’t have to work so hard to be accepted, you’ll simply be yourself: this seems like it’d be worth a few slightly awkward picnics here and there.
Are You Stuck in a Dopamine Loop? Here is how to rebalance your brain chemistry
