The Connection Between Trauma and Emotional Dysregulation
The last couple of years have shown a rise in ADHD diagnoses, likely because it’s becoming more common for people to recognize their behaviors as treatable symptoms. One of the symptoms that can develop in people with ADHD is emotional dysregulation—a very common symptom and topic of conversation.
However, ADHD is not the only disorder associated with emotional dysregulation.
In this article we’ll cover:
- What emotional dysregulation is
- How emotional regulation is developed
- PTSD and emotional dysregulation
- Does everyone with PTSD experience emotional dysregulation
- Healing from emotional dysregulation
What is Emotional Dysregulation?
Emotional dysregulation is a mental health-related issue that makes it difficult to manage emotions and feelings. It can be caused by several mental health issues.
You may be experiencing emotional dysregulation if you’re consistently experiencing:
- Mood swings
- Impulsive behavior
- Easily losing your temper
- Having issues pursuing goals due to your emotions
Emotional dysregulation can be a sign that something else is going on within a person. Some common causes of emotional dysregulation include:
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Trauma-related disorders
- Depression
- Bipolar disorders
- Oppositional defiant disorder
- ADHD
- Traumatic injuries
One of the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is emotional dysregulation. It’s typical for someone who has experienced a traumatic event to have a difficult time controlling their emotional responses, especially when faced with triggers.
How is Emotional Regulation Developed?
Emotional regulation is developed over time. As a child, people may have a hard time controlling outbursts, anger, and excitement. Just compare how a 30-year-old and a child react to something they’re excited about or upset about.
All that to say, people aren’t born with the ability to regulate their emotions, it’s something learned, and that learning process can be hindered or helped throughout development.
PTSD and Emotional Dysregulation
Trauma changes the brain. Some of the ways the brain changes due to trauma include a smaller hippocampus and an over-acting amygdala. It’s not just changes in the chemicals and neuro pathways, trauma changes the brain physically.
These changes can be predominantly seen in people who experienced trauma during childhood, but they can also occur after trauma throughout life.
These brain changes affect emotional regulation and will often lead to dysregulation.
Related Articles: Trauma: Complete Guide, PTSD: Complete Guide
Emotional Dysregulation and C-PTSD
Babies don’t know when to stop crying. They get tired, and cry because they feel uncomfortable without realizing that if they just fell asleep they’d get what they need.
Emotional regulation is developed during childhood. That same baby will eventually realize that sleep is a good thing and will come to love it, especially if they have a baby.
Trauma changes the brain, and when an underdeveloped brain is affected by trauma, it’s much more likely for emotional dysregulation to occur. That’s because the brain never had the healthy space it needed to develop correctly.
Those who have experienced C-PTSD may revert to a childlike emotional space when faced with stressful situations or to secure their needs.
Does Everyone With PTSD Experience Emotional Dysregulation?
We all respond to trauma differently. What’s traumatic to one person might be just another Tuesday for another. We also experience PTSD differently.
Age and development stage plays a big role in whether or not someone will experience emotional dysregulation. People who experience trauma while a child or while they’re still developing their emotional skills are more likely to experience emotional dysregulation.
If someone has fully developed and is considered to have a high level of emotional elasticity, they won’t likely experience emotional dysregulation long-term. However, even a developed brain can experience intense symptoms of trauma.
Related Articles: Mental Disorders Caused By Trauma, Types of Trauma Responses
Healing From Emotional Dysregulation
The effects of emotional dysregulation can be varied, but treatment for it is similar for everyone.
Treatment for emotional dysregulation depends on the cause. Remember that dysregulation is a symptom of a mental health condition. These are the treatments someone with PTSD would most likely encounter.
Trauma-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Trauma-based cognitive behavioral therapy is a trauma-informed version of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). It uses the format of CBT but applies an approach that is specialized for patients with trauma.
CBT helps patients understand the connection between their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. They work through any distorted thoughts or beliefs that may be influencing how they think and behave. For patients with trauma, they’ll work to understand that their fears aren’t based on reality and that they can build safe bonds.
At Sequoia Behavioral Health, we take a trauma-informed approach to everything we do. However, we also offer trauma-specific treatment for inpatient, outpatient, and partial hospitalization treatments. Contact us to learn more.
Related Articles: Trauma Therapy
Forward-Facing Trauma Therapy
Forward-facing trauma therapy faces trauma head-on. Instead of trying to pull away from traumatic memories, patients of forward-facing therapy are encouraged to move toward their trauma.
According to forward-facing therapy, the only way to move past trauma is to move through it. Because of that, it may not be the best option for everyone, but it has been proven to reduce symptoms. As part of this therapy, patients will learn daily relaxation techniques they can use when they begin to feel dysregulated emotions.
Related Articles: Forward Facing Therapy
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is the golden standard of trauma-related treatment. It uses the mechanisms of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep to bring patients to a peaceful place where they can talk about and relive their traumatic memories to reprocess them correctly.
Traumatic memories live unfilled in the mind and can cause emotional dysregulation during times of stress. EMDR lets people treat their trauma without directly speaking about it.
Related Articles: EMDR Treatment Service
Emotional Freedom Techniques
Emotional freedom technique (EFT) is a mind-body connection therapy that uses tapping on acupressure points to slow down the amygdala and soothe the patient.
It works similarly to EMDR but uses tapping to decrease intense emotional reactions. While attending EFT these techniques can be used outside of therapy as well.
Related Articles: Emotional Freedom Techniques: Complete Guide
Somatic Experiencing
Somatic experiencing is a holistic, body-focused treatment that resolves the physical and psychological symptoms of trauma.
Trauma can be trapped in the body. That’s why people often experience physical discomfort or disconnection from their body. Somatic experience engages the body to release trauma from the body.
Related Article: Somatic Experiencing: Complete Guide
Get Treatment At Sequoia Behavioral Health
Emotional dysregulation is a sign that something else could be happening. Whether you know the reason or not, experiencing emotional dysregulation is a good reason to seek mental health treatment.
At Sequoia Behavioral Health, we treat the root cause of emotional dysregulation as well as the symptoms. Whether you’re interested in residential treatment, partial hospitalization, or intensive outpatient treatment, our compassionate staff is available and wants to give you the treatment you deserve.
Call now to begin the intake process.