Affect Regulation/Dysregulation

Affect regulation/dysregulation, also called emotional regulation/dysregulation, is the ability/inability to manage emotions. Psychologists help individuals develop more adaptive coping mechanisms to deal positively with—to regulate—their emotions. Without affect regulation, individuals with mental disorderstend to avoid or suppress painful emotions through maladaptive behaviors, such as avoidance behavior, substance abuse, or binge eating. Being dysregulated is a key feature of autism, ADHD, PTSD, bipolar disorder, and personality disorders (borderline and narcissism).

• Affect regulation deals positively with emotions to deal with stressful demands—crucial to wellbeing. Children first learn to manage emotions and impulses. Teens and young adults feel strong emotions and respond with appropriate behavior, with the least negative consequences.
• Affect dysregulation, in contrast, is an extreme reaction to any stimuli, difficulty in controlling negative emotions, abrupt mood shifts, crying for no reason, inability to calm down, and feeling out of control. It goes beyond the window of tolerance (when we can manage our emotions) and can trigger the body’s fight-or-flight response, despite no danger — leading to behavioral dysregulation (harmful behaviors, including impulsivity, substance misuse, self-harm, suicidal ideation). It has chronic poor outcomes in response to trauma or traumatic brain injury (TBI). Negative impacts can last a lifetime, making it difficult to function, sleep, or prevent further emotional outbursts.

In sum, affect regulation/dysregulation is one’s ability/difficulty in:

• Recognizing and identifying one’s own or others’ emotions. Positive: self-esteem, empathy, genuine relationships. Negative: misinterpretation, confusion. 
• Regulating emotional responses. Positive: able to manage stressful situations. Negative: excessively intense or prolonged, difficult coping with stressful or challenging situations. 
• Managing vs shifting between emotions. Negative: rapid mood swings (bipolar disorder), switching between intense emotions without apparent reason. 
• Controlling vs not controlling impulsive behaviors. Negative: rage, self-harm, substance abuse.