🔼: [[⭐️ 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apathy, feel dead, nothing matters - Disconnected or isolated, chronic shyness - Not seeking social support, withdrawn, [[🛡️ Avoiding]] ###### Somatic/Perceptual Signs - Sluggishness - lightheaded, dizzy - [[💡 Overstimulation]] or hypersensitivity - Difficulty evaluating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]: