Emotional dysregulation, commonly known as "mood swings", is a term used in the
mental health community to refer to an
emotional response that is poorly modulated and does not fall within the conventionally accepted range of emotive response. Possible manifestations of emotional dysregulation include
angry outbursts or behavior outbursts such as destroying or throwing objects, aggression towards self or others, and threats to kill oneself. These variations usually occur in seconds to minutes or hours. Emotional dysregulation can lead to behavioral problems and can interfere with a person's social interactions and relationships at home, in school, or at place of employment.
Emotional dysregulation is a symptom that is a component of many mental health disorders. It can also be referred to as labile mood.[1] While it can be associated with an experience of early psychological trauma, or chronic maltreatment (such as child abuse, child neglect, or institutional neglect/abuse), it can also be associated with a wide range of psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders in adults and children. This includes Reactive attachment disorder, Asperger Syndrome, Autism, Bipolar Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), and Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.[2][3]
The word dysregulation is a neologism created by combining the prefix "dys" to "regulation" According to Webster's, dys has various roots. With Latin and Greek roots, it is akin to Old English to-, te- apart and in Sanskrit dus- bad, difficult. Therefore, dysfunction carries the meaning of impaired functioning.
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