HealthJuly 14, 2026

dysregulation

/ˌdɪsˌrɛɡjʊˈleɪʃən/

Definition

The impaired ability of an individual to manage, process, or maintain emotional or behavioral stability.

Etymology

The word combines the prefix 'dys-', from Greek meaning 'bad' or 'difficult,' with 'regulation,' derived from the Latin 'regulare,' meaning to control or direct. It entered modern English as a scientific and clinical term to describe a failure in the internal processes that keep bodily or mental functions within a normal range.

In the news

The article uses the term to describe a specific area of concern for educators monitoring students, highlighting it as a key indicator of mental health struggles that requires targeted school-based intervention.

'Oh my god, this is real': Brother's suicide drives mental health activism

Read the full article ↗

Columbia Missourian

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