When children experience intense emotions—fear, anger, shame, or overwhelm—their behaviour can change quickly. They may yell, cry, run away, or seem to “switch off” altogether. Clinically, this is known as emotional flooding. It happens when a child’s nervous system becomes overloaded and unable to process what they are feeling in the moment.  During flooding, the body’s stress response (fight, flight, or freeze) activates. Heart rate increases, breathing quickens, and the brain’s emotional...

Teenagers often process divorce in ways that are more complex—and sometimes more volatile—than younger children. While they may have a...

Divorce can be an emotionally confusing and destabilizing experience for children. While adults may understand the reasons behind the...