This includes expressing and responding to emotions in healthy ways.
Many people withborderline personality disorder (BPD)experience intense emotions and have trouble regulating them.
At a Glance
Emotional dysregulation is one of the hallmarks of borderline personality disorder.
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What Is Emotion Regulation?
Emotion regulationis a fairly complex combination of ways in which a person relates to and acts on emotional experiences.
Emotion regulation skills develop during childhood.
This is key in BPD, as people with the condition often experience significant distress in emotional situations.
Our capacity for emotion regulation plays a major role in how we respond to events in our lives.
They may cope by engaging in destructive or violent behaviors or in impulsive activities likepromiscuity.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor.
If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
Others may have trouble being around you during these episodes for many reasons, thus harming your relationships.
Emotional sensitivity may be the driving force behind the mood swings and irritability that people with BPD experience.
Difficulty Controlling Anger
Along with intense mood swings comesintense anger, seemingly out of nowhere.
Emotion dysregulation feels like closely linked with problems controlling anger.
Feelings of Emptiness
Those with BPD often experience a chronic feeling of emptiness.
This feeling of emptiness is very disruptive, and it can lead to impulsive behaviors, as well asself-harmandsuicide.
Unfortunately, many of these behaviors can lead to a lack of stable relationships.
Trouble regulating emotions can exacerbate this.
Takeaways
Emotion regulation is a beneficial skill for everyone, not just people with BPD.
With continued help from a mental health professional, recovery from BPD is possible.
5th ed, text revision.
Washington, D.C.; 2022.
2020;15(7):e0233970.
2017;24(2):302-311.doi:10.1002/cpp.2017
