Restraint Collapse can happen when a child (or adult) has worked really hard to “have a good day”. They’ve held it together enough to stay emotionally and behaviorally regulated while at school or an event and then they get to their safe space (usually a parent/primary caregiver) and emotionally collapse. This can look like an unexpected tantrum, an intense rush of emotion, or a lack of ability to access usual coping strategies. It’s important to remember that when environments change so do expectations from adults, peer relationships, rules, sounds, sights, and schedules.