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Emotional dysregulation is a term used in the mental health community to refer to an emotional response that is not well modulated. This means that an individual does not respond to a person, place, thing, or event in a manner that would generally be considered within the normal range of emotions. Emotional dysregulation is characterized by difficulty regulating one's emotions: an example of this might be rage over a broken nail, or hysterics over a missed appointment. Emotional dysregulation is seen across both positive and negative affect (expression of emotions). Affect or emotional dysregulation is a hall-mark of Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Affect regulation is the relative ability to tolerate painful affect, also known as affect tolerance, and affect modulation, which is the ability to internally reduce distress without resort to defensive mechanisms. Emotional dysregulation or affect regulation problems are often caused by early trauma exposure. This term is also used with reference to Borderline Personality Disorder, Reactive attachment disorder and other conditions. Emotional dysregulation is a broad phenomenon that is a component of many mental health disorders. There is an effort within some sectors of the mental health community to rename Borderline Personality Disorder as Emotional Dysregulation Disorder or Emotional Dysregulatory Disorder. Treatment for emotional dysregulation must address the underlying cause. So, for example, when Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or reactive attachment disorder or chronic maltreatment are the cause, then attachment-based treatment interventions, such as Dyadic developmental psychotherapy may be appropriate for children or adolescents with emotional dysregulation caused by, among other things, Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or Reactive Attachment Disorder. Emotional dysregulation is associated with Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, which can be caused by early chronic maltreatment. Chronic maltreatment (child abuse, child neglect, institutional care, or psychological neglect or abuse or the witnessing of violence) can lead to Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and emotional dysregulation.
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