What is Emotional Dysregulation?

Emotional dysregulation is a breakdown in the body’s ability to manage its “emotional volume.” While most people experience a natural rise and fall in their feelings, individuals facing dysregulation often find that their emotions hit a peak intensity almost instantly and stay there for an exhausting amount of time.Even Small Setbacks can feel like absolute catastrophes because the brain’s emotional cooling system takes longer to kick in.It’s not being dramatic, it’s a physiological struggle to return to baseline.It isn’t a lack of willpower; it’s a difficulty in utilizing the cognitive and physiological tools needed to dial back a reaction once it has been triggered.

A Real-World Example: The “Missed Deadline”

Imagine Zoya, a graphic designer who receives a polite email from her manager asking why a project is two hours late.

The Trigger: A standard professional inquiry.

The Dysregulated Response: Instead of simply replying with an update, her heart begins to race and her mind enters a “shame spiral.” She perceives the email not as a check-in, but as a total rejection of her talent. She becomes so overwhelmed by anxiety and self-loathing that she physically cannot type a response. She slams her laptop shut, spends three hours crying, and eventually considers quitting her job entirely to avoid the “humiliation.”

The Persistence:

Even after a friend reassures her, Zoya remains in a state of high agitation for the rest of the weekend, unable to “reset” her mood to baseline.

Conclusion

Emotional dysregulation transforms minor ripples into tidal waves. It creates a gap between how a person wants to react and how their nervous system actually responds. However, because the brain is neuroplastic, this is not a permanent state. Through targeted strategies like Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), mindfulness, and nervous system grounding, individuals can learn to widen their “window of tolerance” and regain the steering wheel of their emotional lives.

References:

1)Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emotional_dysregulation
2)The Science of Emotional Dysregulation – How DBT & Validation Can Helphttps://youthandfamilyinstitute.com/the-science-of-emotional-dysregulation/
3)Emotional Dysregulation: What It Is, Causes & Treatmenthttps://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/25065-emotional-dysregulation

Dr. Nidhi Kapadia

Psychiatrist, VHC