Has anyone said you are being too sensitive?
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Emotional lability is the tendency to shift rapidly and dramatically between different emotional states.
People with high emotional lability are often described as “sensitive” or having “thin skin.”
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They may quickly transition between positive emotions like happiness, joy, excitement, enthusiasm, and amusement.
But they also tend to experience negative feelings such as sadness more deeply than others.
Other terms for emotional lability include labile mood,labile affect, and reactivity.
Emotional lability is different from moodiness or someone with a “short fuse.”
People with high emotional lability experience sudden, dramatic changes that arenotalways triggered by something specific.
Their feelings fluctuate rapidly and unpredictably.
They may feel fine one minute and then angry or sad the next without warning.
McKeller observed that people with labile mood experienced significant changes in self-esteem, sadness, happiness, and anger.
Not long after, emotional lability was classified as one of the symptoms ofborderline personality disorder.
Emotional lability can also seen in the intense mood episodes that characterizebipolar disorder.
They may be envious of others who have friends, relationships, or people who respect them.
This can affect a person’s sense of self-worth, self-confidence, and belief in themselves.
Being unable to control the intensity of emotions can also impair day-to-day life.
For example, people with emotional lability may find it challenging to focus on tasks or stay organized.
In some cases, treatment might involve training instress managementandrelaxation techniquessuch as journaling, deep breathing, and meditation.
If your loved one is struggling with emotional lability, ensure they get help.
If you’re experiencing these symptoms yourself, talk to your doctor about your options.
Coping With Emotional Lability
Coping with emotional labilitycan be challenging.
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