We all have emotional ups and downs or moments in which we experience emotions in a very intense way. However, when these changes are very extreme or overreacts, we talk about emotional lability.
What is emotional lability
The term “emotional lability” make reference to sudden, disproportionate and uncontrolled mood swings, that occur even without a specific reason. It can also manifest when a person overreacts to a more or less neutral situation, or shows temporary states of euphoria or sadness.
In general, the person who suffers episodes of emotional lability have difficulty managing their emotions properly and is overwhelmed by them without being able to control them. For example, she may have fits of laughter at a situation that is not so funny or episodes of intense crying over a minor setback. In more serious cases, These reactions can be contradictory, for example, laughing at something sad or crying intensely in a funny situation.
Emotional lability means a poor ability to recognize and manage one’s own emotions.
What is not emotional lability
emotional lability it is not a psychological disorder itself, but is the manifestation or the symptom of other more global problems. It is important to differentiate emotional lability from other more serious psychological or psychiatric states such as
In these disorders, the emotional changes are deeper and more prolonged. In addition, they usually last several weeks or months, while the alterations in emotional lability last just a few hours.
On the other hand, There are certain moments in our lives when we have special hormonal conditions that can cause emotional lability. For example, in adolescence, during the or the , there are strong ones that can cause episodes of very intense emotional reactions. This type of emotional lability can be understood as part of the process of change and adaptation, and should never be considered a problem.
Why emotional lability occurs
Still there is controversy about the cause of emotional lability. Some currents point to neurological problems in the limbic system (regulation and control center of emotions). Data that support this idea is that emotional lability is detected in people who suffer from sclerosis, , or .
On the other hand, emotional lability can also be understood from a more psychological point of view, in the sense of poor learning of emotional management. People who they have not had a healthy family model or who have suffered mistreatment or abuse in their childhood, have not learned to manage their emotions in a balanced way and They can reach the extreme of lack of control that emotional lability entails.
Much more research is still needed to understand and treat emotional lability.
Emotional mobility: how to work in therapy
In therapy, can work very effectively To learn to recognize and manage emotions. Let’s keep in mind that brain plasticity allows us to strengthen certain areas of our brain that have not had adequate stimulation in the past. Thus, we can strengthen healthy learning that could not be done during childhood.
Steps we followed in my consultation:
1. Recognize emotions
A first step is to be able to listen and name what we are feeling at all times. Many people tell me, in consultation, that they feel things, but that they cannot define them. In the case of emotional lability, we place great emphasis on
2. Identify the intensity and importance of emotions
Once we must place them on a scale of intensity. In each situation, we can ask: How important is what is happening? Is my emotional reaction proportional to the situation itself?
Thus, the person is learning to regulate their emotions to adjust them to the real situation.
3. Apply relaxation techniques
Through simple and , the person learns to observe their mental/emotional state and manage their levels of . If incorporated as part of a daily routine, it is a great tool in emotional regulation.