Emotional Dysregulation

Emotional dysregulation is a common symptom of both borderline personality disorder (BPD) and autism. It is also seen in other mental health conditions, but I am focusing on these two because they are the ones that affect me the most. Emotional dysregulation is difficulty managing or recognizing emotions. Emotional responses may come off as extreme or intense.

Some people who struggle with emotional dysregulation may have intense emotions. This may cause them to act impulsively or get angry over small things. It could also look like uncontrollable crying or complete emotional shutdown. A lot of people with emotional dysregulation struggle with lack of emotional awareness. They may not be able to describe how they are feeling or struggle to understand how they are feeling. This can lead to inability to manage behavior. When there is lack of awareness, it can cause struggles with reactions to things.

Personally, I struggle with making decisions due to emotional dysregulation. I often cannot tell how I am feeling; therefore, it is hard to make a decision with no awareness. Some people may avoid difficult emotions and shutdown. I am the opposite and usually overreact, but both can happen. I have been told me emotions can go from 0 to 100 very quickly. I can go from being mad, to crying, to being fine within minutes. I have also acted impulsively in a lot of situations. It can be really difficult for someone with BPD and autism to recognize emotions. I struggle regularly trying to identify how I am feeling and once I do it usually doesn't last very long.

Emotional dysregulation affects everyone differently. It can look like an emotional outburst or a complete shutdown. Either way, the person struggling with it needs support. If someone is yelling, they need someone calm and patient. If they shut down, they still need someone patient. Understanding emotional dysregulation can be difficult, but being patient makes a world of difference for the person going through it.

Some good therapies for emotional dysregulation are Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). They are both common for people with BPD. Grounding techniques can also help with emotional dysregulation. A lot of people try different breathing techniques. Writing helps me keep my mind at ease during difficult times. I also go to support groups regularly to help me. There are a lot of things that may help emotional dysregulation, but it takes a lot of effort. I hope this helps someone understand emotional dysregulation a little better. Thank you for reading!