As young children, we can’t control what does or doesn’t happen to us. We don’t have a say in the way our parents raised us, and we develop thought and behavioral patterns that are informed by those around us in our environment. Sometimes traumatic events occur when we’re young, and other times the effects of our upbringing seep in slowly and over a long period of time.
Most of us don’t realize the ways we’ve been impacted by our caregivers, friends, family and experiences until we experience conflicts in our relationships as we get older. For some, our issues involve having difficulty getting too close to others – we may fear of them getting to know the “real” us, or perhaps we’ve been raised to crave independence. For others, we may find certain argument styles that aren’t healthy, and it stems from a series of negative thought habits that we’ve developed over the years. We all have these “hang-ups” that we must work on as we become aware of them, but there are some cases in which our emotions get the best of us – and sometimes this can be hard to face.
Emotional instability is typically defined as rapid, exaggerated changes in mood, where oftentimes strong emotions or feelings (such as extreme laughter or uncontrollable crying) occur. In many cases, emotional instability is experienced by individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) – but those with depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other related mental illnesses may struggle with emotional instability, too. If you or a loved one are concerned about emotional instability, check for the following symptoms:
- Unexpected reactions – if someone is reacting to an event in a completely different way that is not expected, they could be experiencing emotional instability. For instance, reacting very angrily to negative feedback, rather than being receptive, could be a sign of emotional instability, according to a 2014 study published in the journal Motivation and Emotion.
- Rapid mood shifting – happy one minute, sad the next; quick-shifting and unpredictable mood swings could be a clear sign of emotional instability. Psychologist Sherry Cormier told Bustle Magazine in 2018 that if emotions such as agitation or sadness seem to appear without warning, it could be a sign that therapy is needed.
- Difficulty calming down – those with emotional instability often lack the skills necessary to find an emotional equilibrium – this doesn’t mean that healing cannot occur for them, however. With the right therapy and support, a person can strengthen these important tools of recovery.
If you or a loved one is struggling with emotional instability, consider seeking restoration at a reputable wellness center. There are people who can help you become the best version of yourself – it all begins with taking that first step.
Trauma is most often the root cause of many emotional, behavioral, and mood disorders. Until you can heal your trauma, you will find great difficulty finding the healing you need to live a life of recovery, health, and wellness. At Khiron House, we provide effective residential treatment and cutting edge therapies which seek to transform mind, body, and spirit from the effects of trauma. Call us today for information. UK: 020 3811 2575 (24 hours) USA: (866) 801 6184 (24 hours).