What does it mean when you are unable to control your emotions?
Written by Damilola Adeleke
When people are unable to control their emotions, their responses may be disruptive or inappropriate given the situation or setting.
Anger, sadness, anxiety, and fear are just some of the emotions a person may have.
Being unable to control emotions can be temporary. It could be caused by something like a drop in blood sugar or exhaustion from lack of sleep.
However, some people experience a constant inability to control their emotions because of a chronic condition. It’s important to know when to seek help because not being able to control your emotions can interfere with your daily life.
What are emotional outbursts?
Emotional outbursts, also known as emotional lability, refer to rapid changes in emotional expression where strong or exaggerated feelings and emotions occur.
This neurological condition often affects people who already have a pre-existing condition or have suffered brain injuries in the past.
Some people with mental health conditions, like borderline personality disorder (BPD), also experience labile emotions, but for different reasons than neurological conditions.
Examples of these types of unregulated outbursts include:
sudden irritability
fits of crying or laughter
feeling angry, but not knowing why
angry outbursts
People who’ve had a stroke can also have emotional lability.
Discover other causes of emotional outbursts and steps you can take to support those dealing with this issue.
What are the causes of being unable to control emotions?
The causes of being unable to control emotions can vary. Some children may not be able to control their emotions when they feel overwhelmed or distressed. They may have a temper tantrum or crying outbursts.
Children typically begin to develop greater self-control as they age.
There are some exceptions, including children who have a medical condition, such as:
adjustment disorder
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
autism
oppositional defiant disorder
Other conditions associated with being unable to control emotions include:
alcohol use disorder
antisocial personality disorder
Asperger’s syndrome
bipolar disorder
delirium
diabetes
misuse of drugs
head injury
low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
postpartum depression
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
psychosis
schizophrenia
Many of these conditions require long-term treatments to help people better control their emotions.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/25065-emotional-dysregulation
What are the symptoms of being unable to control emotions?
People control or regulate their emotions on a daily basis. They determine:
what emotions they have
when they have them
how they experience them
Emotional control is a habit for some people. For others, emotional response is automatic.
Symptoms associated with being unable to control emotions include:
being overwhelmed by feelings
feeling afraid to express emotions
feeling angry, but not knowing why
feeling out of control
having difficulty understanding why you feel the way you do
misusing drugs or alcohol to hide or “numb” your emotions
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), difficulty controlling emotions is a major symptom that people with mood or anxiety disorders have.
The following symptoms are signs that a person should seek medical treatment:
feeling like life is no longer worth living
feeling like you want to hurt yourself
hearing voices or seeing things others tell you are not there
losing consciousness or feeling as if you are going to faint
Pseudobulbar Affect (PBA)
Pseudobulbar Affect (PBA) is a condition that affects people with neurological conditions or those who have experienced brain injury. Involuntary bouts of crying, laughter, or anger are the main symptoms of this condition.
PBA occurs when there’s a disconnect between the emotion-controlling frontal lobe and the cerebellum and brain stem.
PBA occurs as a result of:
stroke
Parkinson’s disease
brain tumors
dementia
brain injury
multiple sclerosis
Make an appointment to see your healthcare provider if you experience any of the following symptoms:
having emotions with no known cause or trigger
having frequent emotional outbursts
having feelings of sadness, anger, or depressed thoughts most days of the week
having difficulty expressing your emotions
Adeleke Damilola (ACTION) is a versatile content writer with expertise in news writing and a seasoned media professional and broadcast specialist. Currently serving as News Editor for DNews Info, Damilola is also the CEO of the ACTION brand, committed to shaping lives and establishing a legacy of excellence for present and future generations.
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