Emotional dysregulation
Emotional dysregulation (ED) is a transdiagnostic construct defined as the inability to regulate the intensity and quality of emotions (such as, fear, anger, sadness), in order to generate an appropriate emotional response, to handle excitability, mood instability, and emotional overreactivity, and to come down to an emotional baseline (Paulus et al., 2021).
In children, adolescents, and young adults, emotional dysregulation appears in five overlapping dimensions:
1. Decreased overall emotional awareness:
Unaware of/out of touch with emotions.
2. Increased emotional reactivity:
Extreme emotional responses to typical stimuli.
3. Intense experience and expression of emotion:
Emotions feel overwhelming.
Emotion-driven outbursts are common.
Emotion-driven withdrawal is common.
4. Emotional rigidity:
Freezing or dissociating when under stress or pressure.
5. Cognitive function:
Problems with accurately processing information.
Problems identifying false/incorrect beliefs/assumptions (Bay Area Clinical Associates, n.d.).
Paulus, F. W., Ohmann, S., Möhler, E., Plener, P., & Popow, C. (2021). Emotional dysregulation in children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders. A narrative review. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.628252.
Bay Area Clinical Associates. (n.d.). Emotional dysregulation treatment. Retrieved from: https://surl.li/pqhaao.