Introduction to Emotional Dysregulation

Emotional dysregulation is the inability of an individual to manage intense emotions which ultimately affects his career, health, and relationships. This is generally seen as a sudden outburst of emotions in the form of abuse on their loved ones or a negative feeling inside over a long period which disrupts their daily life.

Emotional dysregulation is seen as a major symptom of diseases like ADHD, PTSD, and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). It’s like you are unable to manage the temperature appropriately which leads to a feeling of discomfort in any situation because you somehow always end up at the wrong temperature at the wrong time.

Further in the blog, we will analyze possible emotional dysregulation treatment options that can help you regulate this temperature with minimum intervention from outside.

Who Needs Treatment for Emotional Dysregulation? 

According to this research, people from 10 cities were identified and tested on the grounds of emotional dysregulation, and 6.1%-12.7% with a mean of 9.2% shows a recurring pattern. This testifies how many people need help with regulating their emotions. Here are a few patterns to recognize in yourself and decide if you need professional help.

• Inability to control changing emotions
• Too many emotions make you overwhelmed
• Frequent emotional outbursts with a lack of control
• Difficulty in winding down after
• Trouble maintaining long-lasting relationships
• Facing decision fatigue and being unable to make important decisions

The Best Therapies for Emotional Dysregulation Treatment

Three of the most common therapies CBT, ACT, and DBT help in emotional dysregulation treatment. Let’s talk about them in detail.

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

CBT helps an individual identify negative trigger points and recurring thought patterns that lead to failure. Therapists help people to then work on the behaviors and incorporate them into their lives. This is an example of truly changing specific behaviors and expecting different outcomes instead of just “hoping” for a better future. It is effective for regulating emotions in your favor.

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

ACT as the name suggests starts with making you accept your current situation and accepting that you want change. You recognize yourself more than your thoughts, identify the non-negotiables in your life and take one step at a time to realign with your priorities. It helps in making you commit to the things you truly want and hence aligning your emotions in the right direction.

• Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)

DBT helps in validating emotions as well as changing behaviors at the same time navigating through the complexities of emotions. It teaches you how to survive crises without self-harm like practicing mindfulness, deep breathing, exercises, etc. This therapy also helps in communicating your needs in the right format and setting necessary boundaries. 

Self-Help Strategies for Emotional Regulation

While therapies work wonders, you need to re-analyze your habits and take small steps in the right direction that can truly prove to be transformative.

• Deep breathing

Whenever you find yourself overwhelmed with thoughts and emotions, start by grounding yourself. Get all your consciousness in the present moment and take a few deep breaths to calm yourself down. The beauty of this technique is that it can be replicated anywhere, in any situation, and as number of times as you want without any side effects.

• Journaling

Research found that journaling can help get rid of mental distress and improve well-being in the long term. Writing your thoughts on a piece of paper and seeing your situation from a 3rd person perspective takes all the load out of your head. 

• Follow a sleep schedule

Ruining your sleep for an extra hour of mindless scrolling, an extra Netflix episode, or a late-night party can destroy your routine and mood. Sleeping and waking up at the same time every day help your body and mind know when it’s time to wind down vs when it’s time to start a new day again. 

• Regular physical activity

Moving your body releases certain chemicals that give you a feeling of fulfillment and you are healthier, fitter and look good as a by-product. Incorporate an hour every day of any physical activity in your schedule and you will see positive results in the long run.

How Avisa Recovery Can Help You with Emotional Dysregulation Treatment

Understanding and treating your emotions in the right way can be challenging especially when you lack professional advice and have navigated all possible methods. Emotional dysregulation treatment is a long-term therapy-based system designed to help you regularize your emotions and guide you whenever you need it the most.

We at Avisa Recovery are on a mission to help adults and adolescents with the right mental health and substance abuse treatments according to their requirements and goals. With adequate support groups, regular therapy sessions, and inpatient and outpatient treatment based on preferences and medications (if required), we ensure you get the best treatment within your preferred time frame.

You can contact our team with your concerns and we will assign a professional that will dissect your issues and give you a personalized treatment plan for faster recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. What is the best medication for emotional dysregulation?
A. Medications like SSRIs, mood stabilizers, and ADHD medications may help, depending on the underlying condition.

Q. Is emotional dysregulation permanent?
A. No, it can be managed with therapy, medication, and self-regulation strategies.

Q. What are 6 common emotions?
A. Happiness, sadness, fear, anger, surprise, and disgust are 6 common emotions that a human faces and often gets confused about.

Q. How to calm down from extreme emotions in 30 seconds?
A. Take deep breaths, splash cold water on your face, or use grounding techniques like the 5-4-3-2-1 method.

Q. Are there pills for emotions?
A. Yes, antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and anti-anxiety medications can help regulate emotions.