🔼: [[⭐️ Emotions]]
#### Emotional Dysregulation
Emotional dysregulation is the upset that happens when our [[💡 Stress|stress]] becomes *distress* and begins to push us outside of our [[💡 Window of Tolerance|Window of Tolerance]], toward [[💡 Overwhelm|overwhelm]]. Often our [[💡 Exiles|Exiles]] have been brushed against or [[💡 Trigger|triggered]], we're potentially [[💡 Blending|blended]], and our [[💡 Reactive Protectors]] are likely active with the potential to take haphazard action or paralyze us into taking no action at all.
##### Keys
- [[🔑 Emotional dysregulation is normal]], but chronic dysregulation is a [[Symptoms of Unresolved Trauma|symptom of unresolved trauma]] – of both [[💡 Burdens 🪨|Burdens]] and [[💡 Polarization|polarization]].
![[💡 Window of Tolerance#Doors into The Window of Tolerance]]
##### Signs of Emotional Dysregulation
###### Cognitive
- [[💡 Cognitive Distortions]]
- Thinking and [[⭐️ Learning]] are impossible
- [[💡 Racing Thoughts]], [[💡 Obsessions]], or [[Intrusive Thoughts]], imagery, or emotions
- Blank-mindedness
- Disorientation, difficulty concentrating, frequent confusion, [[Brain Fog]]
- Impaired [[💡 Memory]], forgetfulness, memory loss,
- Concept loss ("I can't think of the word...")
- Inability to plan
- [[💡 Polarization]]
###### Emotion/Motivation
- [[💡 Nightmares]], Flashbacks, or [[💡 Emotional Flashback|Emotional Flashbacks]]
- [[Anhedonia]]
- An incredible urge to express what's bothering you
- Defensiveness, Rage, hypersensitivity
- [[💡 Anxiety]], Panic Attacks, fear of "going crazy," Paranoia, feelings of impending doom
- [[💡 Shame]] cycles, wanting to disappear, survivor's guilt,
- Hopelessness, [[💡 Grief]]
- self-doubt, lack of self trust
- Hyperactivity, Mania
- [[💡 Depression]], diminished interest in life, lack of meaning/motivation, apathy, feel dead, nothing matters
- Disconnected or isolated, chronic shyness
- Not seeking social support, withdrawn, [[🛡️ Avoiding]]
###### Somatic/Perceptual Signs
- Sluggishness
- lightheaded, dizzy
- [[💡 Overstimulation]] or hypersensitivity
- Difficulty evaluating surroundings
- Tripping over, dropping, or losing things suddenly and notably often
- Numbing or being unable to feel parts of the [[⭐️ Body]] (nose, hands, feet)
- Tingling, twitching, [[💡 Tremors]]
- Hot flashes, flushing, sweating, cold sweats
- Nausea
- High blood pressure
- Agitation, difficulty relaxing, Irritability, emotional reactivity or outbursts, [[💡 Impulsivity]], disruptive, interrupting
- passive, spacey, less verbal, less responsive,
- Upset stomach
- Hyperventilation, difficulty breathing, shallow breaths or "forgetting" to breathe
- Increased heart rate, heart palpitations
- Cold hands & feet
- [[💡 Chronic Pain]]
- [[💡 Insomnia]]
- Flaccid muscle tone
- Pale skin tone
- Fixed gaze ("thousand yard stare"), glassy eyes
- Objects appear flat, 2-dimensional, or "cartoon-like"
- Distance distortions
- Visual hyper-clarity or fog
- Collapsed posture, sluggish or reduced movement, [[💡 Fatigue]] or lethargy, sleepiness
- Trouble with basic [[⭐️ Self-Maintenance]], like showering or eating a healthy amount
###### Social
- Rapid or disorganized speech, jumping from topic to topic
- Self-Sabotage
- Feeling or other people
Another major sign of emotional dysregulation is activated [[💡 Protector Parts|Protectors]], noticed by their [[Protector Strategies 🛡️]]:
![[Protector Strategies 🛡️#Common Protector Strategies]]
![[Protector Strategies 🛡️#Extreme Protector Strategies]]
![[Protector Strategies 🛡️#Healthy Protector Strategies|Protector Strategy 🛡️]]
[^1]: