Why understanding your nervous system helps you with your emotions

Send us Fan Mail You’ve heard the advice: “Teach your child to name their emotions.” But what if the real secret to helping your child (and yourself) regulate emotions starts deeper inside the body? In this episode, I sit down with pediatric occupational therapist Laura Petix (The OT Butterfly) to uncover what’s really going on when kids have meltdowns, get overstimulated, or shut down. Spoiler alert: it’s not about being “bad” or “defiant.” Laura explains how your child’s behavior is actually a message from their nervous system and why understanding this changes everything about the way you respond. You’ll learn: Why meltdowns, shutdowns, and big reactions are signs of nervous-system overload How sensory sensitivities (sound, touch, movement) shape your child’s emotions and behavior The difference between a tantrum and a meltdown and why that matters Why co-regulation starts with your calm nervous system The mindset shift that helps you see behavior through compassion instead of control If you’ve ever wondered “Why does my child react this way — and why do I lose my cool, too?” this episode will open your eyes to what’s really happening beneath the surface. Listen now and get ready to see your child’s behavior through a completely new lens. Get Laura's Book: A Kids Book About Neurodiversity Follow Laura on Instagram @theotbutterfly Support the show Do you find yourself reacting in ways you wish you could change when your child is upset? Learn how to stay calm, manage your emotions, and respond in a way that actually helps your child. Get your FREE emotional awareness training for parents and kids below (comes with a poster, workbook and video): Or purchase our course, join the next 8 week group cohort in April 2026 below:

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Why understanding your nervous system helps you with your emotions is an episode from Curious Neuron by Cindy Hovington, Ph.D..

This episode is 31:33 long.

This episode was published on Oct 6, 2025.

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