Emotional Dysregulation

What is Emotional Dysregulation?

Emotion Dysregulation may be thought of as the inability to manage the intensity and duration of negative emotions such as fear, sadness, or anger. If you are struggling with emotion regulation, an upsetting situation will bring about strongly felt emotions that are difficult to recover from. The effects of a prolonged negative emotion may be physically, emotionally, and behaviourally intense.

What is emotion dysregulation associated with?

Emotion dysregulation is associated with many psychiatric disorders such as major depression, PTSD and C-PTSD, Borderline Personality Disorder, and substance abuse. It is common for those suffering with emotion dysregulation to experience difficulty with interpersonal relationships. Extreme emotional reactions and difficulty resolving conflicts add to increased stress on personal and professional relationships. Many individuals suffering from emotion dysregulation may turn to alcohol or drugs to find relief from upset and stress. These behaviours add additional challenges to career and family relationships as well as take a toll on physical health.

Signs and Symptoms of Emotional Dysregulation

• Intensity and duration of negative emotions such as fear, sadness, or anger
• Strongly felt emotions outside your window of tolerance
• Extreme emotional reactions and difficulty resolving conflicts
• Inability to stop thinking about what has upset you
• Inability to cope and incapable of soothing self and regulating emotions
• A need to turn to alcohol, drugs or substance abuse to find relief from upset and stress
• Behaviours which add additional challenges to career and family relationships