Emotion dysregulation or rapid mood swings can impact our self perception, interpersonal relationships and cause overall disruption to the most important parts of our life. Positive Wellbeing Psychology is here to support you in managing these symptoms so that you can focus on the most important parts of your life.
What are the most common emotional responses?
> anger
> anxiety
> disgust
> excitement
> fear
> happiness
> joy
> sadness
Can disproportionate emotional responses impact an individuals day-to-day life?
Emotional symptoms may be positive, or not so positive. The symptoms may be triggered and come from within or be a reaction to your environment. Emotional changes can be very normal, temporary responses to a range of events or triggers. This is experienced by all individuals and therefore is a normal human response. We all need this function to protect ourselves from time to time. To shift our mood and therefore result in setting boundaries with certain people or provoke anxiety to consider making a change or getting things done.
How to identify when an emotional response is causing problems and disruptions in my life?
It usually raises concern when your emotional response is disproportionate, extreme, persistent or unstable. At these times, our emotional responses can cause problems in our life and interpersonal relationships. Emotional symptoms can cause legal or financial problems, relationship difficulties and problems at home, school or work. They can be associated with aggression, agitation, feelings of emptiness, guilt, helplessness and hopelessness as well as loss of pleasure.
Not all emotional responses result in a negative nature. Individuals also experience feelings of enthusiasm, grandiosity and hopefulness. These disproportionate emotional symptoms may also be excessive and therefore lead to inappropriate behaviours, increased risk, impulsivity, accidents, poor judgment, self-harm, violence, and suicide.
Can a disproportionate emotional response indicate a mental health difficulty?
Whilst emotions can serve as a normal and protective function, abnormal emotional responses can be associated with several psychiatric conditions including:
> anxiety disorders
> bipolar disorder
> dysthymic disorder
> major depression
> postpartum depression
> substance abuse
> personality disorders
> attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
Why does it take so long to reach out for support?
It is absolutely normal to experience a little bit of reluctance to seek help for emotional difficulties. This is understandable as it can be difficult to discuss personal and disproportionate emotional responses and/or the impact of these in our personal life. Most individuals with emotional symptoms do not seek assistance from a psychologist but continue to visit their GP. This is a great starting point as your GP can assess your eligibility for a Mental Health Treatment Plan. Medicare can provide a rebate for up to 10 sessions per calendar year to start with exploring useful strategies.
How can Positive Wellbeing Psychology help?
At Positive Wellbeing Psychology, we are trained in a range of proven techniques to help improve, understand, and manage disproportionate emotional responses, thereby improving your confidence, interpersonal relationships, and overall life satisfaction. You may benefit from talking to a warm and caring psychologist at Positive Wellbeing Psychology to explore the predisposing factors and maintaining factors of emotional problems.
Our Melbourne-based psychologists in clinical practice are available online Australia wide. By working through these challenges, you will feel empowered and in control as well as start to improve your interpersonal relationships and life satisfaction.
Our Australian Registered Psychologists are experienced and trained in evidence-based treatment for emotion dysregulation and rapid mood swings.