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Emotional Dysregulation

Emotional dysregulation is a mental health symptom characterized by difficulty managing or controlling emotional responses. Individuals may experience intense mood shifts, impulsive behavior, or strong reactions that feel disproportionate to the situation. While everyone experiences strong emotions at times, emotional dysregulation refers to patterns that interfere with relationships, responsibilities, or overall functioning. This symptom is often associated with mental health or neurodevelopmental conditions but may also result from brain injury or neurological illness.

Medically Reviewed By Dr. Singh

1 min read

Updated July 9, 2025

What Is Emotional Dysregulation?

Emotional regulation is the ability to track, adjust, and recover from your feelings. This includes managing how emotions are shown and calming down after a triggering event. It also involves keeping emotions from affecting your decision-making. Emotion dysregulation happens when a person has trouble with these processes.

People with emotion dysregulation may feel emotions more intensely or for longer periods. They might have trouble calming down or feel overwhelmed by feedback. These difficulties often begin in childhood but can also start later in life due to trauma, injury, or illness.

Signs and Symptoms

Emotion dysregulation can affect your mood, behavior, and relationships. Common signs may include:

Sudden or extreme mood swings
Ongoing irritability or frustration
Impulsive or reckless behavior
Difficulty calming down after distress
Verbal outbursts or angry reactions
Low tolerance for frustration or delays
Emotional responses that feel out of proportion to the situation
Difficulty focusing when emotionally triggered

In children, symptoms can look like frequent tantrums, a resistance to change, or trouble switching between tasks. In adults, emotion dysregulation may affect work performance, personal relationships, and general well-being.

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Causes and Associated Conditions

Emotion dysregulation can come from many causes. It may show differences in how the brain processes emotion or responds to stress. In some cases, it is linked to brain changes in structure or function. In others, it is a part of an underlying mental health condition. Common contributing factors include:

Mental health diagnoses

Borderline personality disorder
Bipolar disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Depression
Anxiety disorders
Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (in children)
Oppositional defiant disorder or conduct disorder

Neurodevelopmental conditions

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Autism spectrum disorder

Neurological or medical causes

Traumatic brain injury or concussion
Seizure disorders
Stroke
Dementia
Infections affecting the brain (such as encephalitis)
Substance use or withdrawal

Not everyone with emotional dysregulation has a formal mental health diagnosis. In many cases, the symptom is part of a larger pattern of emotional sensitivity or trouble with executive functioning.

Diagnosis

A diagnosis is made after an evaluation by a mental health professional. The process usually includes:

A review of emotional and behavioral symptoms
Assessment of how symptoms affect daily functioning
A medical history and physical exam to rule out brain-related causes
Feedback from parents, teachers, or family for children and teens

Standardized tools can be used to help identify underlying conditions and track the severity of symptoms. Emotion dysregulation is not a standalone diagnosis but is considered as part of related mental health or developmental concerns.

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Treatment Options

While emotion dysregulation can be upsetting, it is often manageable with the right support. Treatment focuses on finding the causes, teaching new skills, and addressing conditions that occur at the same time. Common approaches may include:

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, is the primary treatment. Several approaches are effective in helping people understand and manage emotional responses.

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) teaches skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and personal effectiveness. It was first created for borderline personality disorder but is now used much more widely.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps people challenge negative thought patterns and create better coping skills.
Trauma-focused therapy may be suggested when the dysregulation is linked to past trauma.
Therapy can be provided in individual or group settings. It is often tailored to the person’s age, developmental stage, and other present diagnoses.

Therapy may be delivered individually or in group settings and is often tailored to age, developmental stage, and the presence of co-occurring diagnoses.

Medication

Medication is sometimes used to lower emotional reactivity or treat related mental health conditions. The choice of medication depends on the diagnosis and specific symptoms.

Examples of these medications may include:

Antidepressants for mood or anxiety symptoms
Mood stabilizers for bipolar disorder
Stimulants or non-stimulant medications for ADHD
Atypical antipsychotics, in some cases, especially when aggression or severe mood symptoms are present

Medication decisions are made with a psychiatrist or other prescribing healthcare provider. Regular check-ins are vital to ensure the medication is safe and effective.

Supportive Strategies

Lifestyle and behavioral strategies are also important for managing emotional dysregulation. These can include:

Creating planned daily routines
Practicing stress-relief techniques like mindfulness or breathing exercises
Using tools to label emotions and track them
Avoiding known emotional triggers when you can
Improving sleep, nutrition, and physical activity
Joining supportive peer groups or building healthy relationships

Caregivers, teachers, and family members can also benefit from support when a child or teen in the house is affected by emotion dysregulation.

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When to Seek Help

Emotion dysregulation should be addressed when it causes ongoing distress or gets in the way of relationships, school, work, or daily life. It is especially important to get help if symptoms include aggression, self-harm, or suicidal thoughts.

In children, emotional dysregulation can point to developmental challenges or be an early sign of a mental health concern. A pediatrician, school counselor, or child psychologist can help decide if an evaluation is needed.

In adults, new or worse dysregulation may signal a change in mental health or the start of a brain condition. An assessment by a qualified mental health provider can help find the cause and create a treatment plan.”

Get Help For Emotional Dysregulation at MPower Wellness

Emotion dysregulation is a common symptom resulting from various conditions that affect how the brain handles emotion and stress. While it can be hard to manage, many people see real improvement with planned treatment. Therapy, medication, and support can help people understand their emotional responses, build regulation skills, and improve their daily life.

If emotion dysregulation is affecting your relationships, work, or well-being, it may be time to get support. MPower Wellness provides full mental health care that addresses the root causes of this issue. We help people work toward lasting emotional balance.

To learn more, give us a call, fill out our free insurance form, or send us an email—whatever’s easiest for you. We’re here to answer your questions and help you take the next step.

Medical Reviewer

Dr. Singh

Dr. Deepraj Singh is a board-certified psychiatrist. She graduated from Albany Medical College and completed her residency at Drexel University. Due to her passion for learning as well as teaching, she joined the Drexel University faculty to teach resident physicians and medical students. She started out her career in emergency psychiatry, but has expanded into working in outpatient, day program, inpatient and targeted case management programs. She is also certified in ECT and TMS. She performed ECT for persons with severe depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorders. She has always been interested in ways to improve care for her patients. This has led her to pursuing leadership roles such as medical directorships at various outpatient programs and inpatient facilities. These opportunities have allowed her to make changes at an organization level as well as community level. She strives to provide a comfortable atmosphere and a thorough evaluation. She believes in the holistic approach to care, aspires to integrate the biopsychosocial aspects as well physical health, and nutrition into her evaluation and treatment of her patients.