BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Using multiple emotion regulation strategies in response to a single stressor-known as polyregulation-is an understudied but common event. The role of polyregulation in psychological disorders characterized by repetitive negative thinking (RNT) is unexplored, despite well-documented difficulties in emotion regulation and strong urges to avoid and escape one's intrusive thoughts in RNT. METHODS: Participants (N = 60) either had clinical levels of RNT (n = 15 with worries, n = 14 with ruminations, n = 16 with obsessions) or non-clinical levels of RNT (n = 15) and were exposed to their most personally distressing intrusive thought during an in-lab task. Proportional odds logistic regressions were used to test if RNT group and situation-level factors predicted greater polyregulation following the thought exposure. Multilevel regressions were used to test the short-term effectiveness of polyregulation on subjective distress and psychophysiological responding (heart rate, skin conductance). RESULTS: Ninety percent of participants reported using two or more strategies following intrusive thought exposure. Extent of polyregulation was not significantly predicted by RNT group, most situation-level factors, or short-term regulatory effectiveness. Endorsing a greater need to control one's intrusive thought did, however, predict use of more strategies. LIMITATIONS: This is a secondary analysis in a small sample. CONCLUSION: Given treatments for psychological disorders characterized by RNT attempt to disrupt the connection between a person's urge to control their distressing thoughts and efforts to escape or avoid those thoughts, continued investigation into the role of polyregulation in intrusive thinking may guide clinical intervention.