About 20% of teens are what we call “Fire Feelers”—biologically wired to feel emotions more quickly, more intensely, and for longer than their peers. These teens are highly sensitive, and their emotional “thermostat” is set higher than most.

When your teen’s mood changes, their entire view of the world can shift with it. Learn what mood dependence is, why it happens, and how validation helps your teen separate feelings from facts.

Ever had your teen come home from school, throw their bag on the floor, and yell that their entire day was “awful”? Even if you know most of their day went fine, in that moment it feels impossible to convince them otherwise. What you’re seeing isn’t drama—it’s emotion dysregulation.