
371. Co-Regulation Explained: Why You Absorb Other People's Emotions (And How to Stop)
From Relationships Made Easy by Dr. Abby Medcalf
February 24, 2026 · 42 min · Season 8 · Episode 371
About this episode
This episode explains co-regulation and how it affects emotional responses in relationships, offering practical skills to manage it.
Have you ever noticed how your partner's bad mood can completely derail your day? Or how when your sister calls upset, suddenly your heart is racing even though nothing's wrong in your life? Maybe you walk into the office and instantly feel tense because your coworker is stressed, or you leave a phone call with your mom feeling drained and anxious for hours afterward. What's happening isn't a character flaw or a sign that you're "too sensitive." It's called co-regulation, and it's one of the most powerful forces in all your relationships. The problem? Most of us are doing it unconsciously, using patterns we learned as babies that no longer serve us. Today, you're going to learn exactly how co-regulation works in your brain and body, why your childhood experiences are still running the show in all your relationships, and most importantly, three practical skills you can use right now to stop the cycle of mutual dysregulation. By the end of this episode, you'll understand why you can't think your way out of emotional reactivity, and what to do instead. ____________________________ Full blog and show notes: https://abbymedcalf.com/what-is-co-regulation Download The Co-Regulation…
People in this episode
Host: Dr. Abby Medcalf
Topics covered
- co-regulation
- emotional reactivity
- relationships
- childhood experiences
- self-improvement
Keywords
- co-regulation
- emotions
- relationships
- emotional reactivity
- self-improvement
- stress
- childhood experiences
More episodes of Relationships Made Easy
- 386. Why You Do What You Do: An Introduction to Internal Family Systems · June 8, 2026 · 44 min
- 385. Are You a Highly Sensitive Person? What the Research Actually Says · June 1, 2026 · 41 min
- 384. You're Not Feeling Guilty. Here's What's Really Going On. · May 25, 2026 · 27 min
- 383. Are You Enmeshed or Just Close? Here's How to Tell · May 18, 2026 · 50 min
- 382. Why You Can’t Stop Comparing Yourself to Others · May 11, 2026 · 36 min
- 381. Why You Shut Off Your Feelings (And Why It's Catching Up With You) · May 4, 2026 · 34 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Relationships Made Easy podcast page.