“Max,” A Short Case Study on Self-Regulation

After Max completed high school, he earned a certification through a job placement program that would allow him to interview for positions offering a prevailing wage.

He was quickly offered an opportunity to interview at a major hospital. 

Confident in his ability to secure the position, Max arrived prepared and on time, ready to put his training into action.

In the parking lot, minutes before the interview, Max received a phone call with upsetting news about a close relative. 

His mood shifted in an instant, his breathing became shallow, his heart rate increased, and he couldn’t stop thinking about the news he received—in other words, he became dysregulated. 

At the interview, the hiring manager noticed Max was becoming triggered, noticeably reactionary, and increasingly frustrated with the project-based question.

Ultimately, Max spiraled, lost control during the interview, and subsequently ended any opportunity to further pursue the position he had been interested in. 

If Max had been taught self-regulation skills at any point at home or in school, this story might have had a different ending.