Everyone struggles with strong emotions once in a while. Sometimes, anger or sadness can be overwhelming, and it can lead you to react in unhealthy ways. This is normal and nothing to be ashamed of. However, if you often struggling with managing emotions or feel emotionally numb, you may have issues with emotional regulation. This should be addressed with a mental health professional so that you can improve your overall well-being.
Emotional regulation is the ability to manage and respond to emotions in a healthy way. Good emotional regulation strikes a balance between feeling your emotions fully and not letting them become destructive, harmful, or all-consuming. Sometimes, it can be difficult to find that balance, especially with strong negative emotions like anger and sadness. Even people with good emotional regulation skills struggle from time to time.
The opposite of emotional regulation is emotional dysregulation. Emotional dysregulation is when strong emotions are unmanageable for you. The emotion may overwhelm you, causing an emotional meltdown where you lose your ability to function. You might misdirect the emotion onto someone else, lashing out at others. Or, you might use unhealthy coping mechanisms to avoid or ignore the emotion, such as using substances.
Many mental health disorders go hand-in-hand with emotional dysregulation. It’s unknown whether emotional dysregulation leads to mental illness or if it’s simply a symptom of mental illness. Some disorders that are connected with emotional dysregulation include:
Some signs and symptoms of emotional dysregulation are:
Emotional regulation plays a critical role in both the development of addiction and the recovery process. People often turn to substances as a way to cope with overwhelming emotions such as stress, anxiety, anger, or sadness. When emotions are poorly managed, substances may provide temporary relief, but this can lead to dependency and addiction as individuals rely on them to escape negative feelings.
In addiction recovery, learning effective emotional regulation is essential for long-term success. The ability to manage emotions in a healthy way reduces the urge to use substances as a coping mechanism. Techniques such as mindfulness, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) teach individuals to recognize and process their emotions without turning to destructive behaviors. This fosters resilience, emotional balance, and greater self-awareness.
Improved emotional regulation not only helps individuals manage stress and triggers during recovery but also strengthens their overall mental health. By developing these skills, individuals are less likely to relapse because they can handle life’s challenges without relying on substances. In this way, emotional regulation is a cornerstone of successful addiction treatment. It equips individuals to maintain sobriety, improve their emotional well-being, and achieve a more stable, fulfilling life.
South Shore Recovery Center believes in the power of emotional regulation. However, we understand that for people with mental illness or SUD, it may not come naturally. Comprehensive care and support are needed for many to learn the skills of emotional regulation. Through a collaborative care approach and evidence-based psychotherapy techniques, we empower our patients to grow and learn these new skills.
At South Shore Recovery Center, Our collaborative care approach includes mental health professionals, family, and peer support. We believe that these are the backbone of a comprehensive treatment plan. When you partner with us for your healing journey, you’ll work closely with mental health professionals through therapy. Your family is encouraged to be involved every step of the way, including through family therapy sessions. Peer support groups are available to patients who want to connect with others in similar circumstances.
Talk therapy, also called psychotherapy, offers a range of techniques to help individuals improve emotional regulation, starting with effective coping strategies for managing stress and anger. For instance, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) teaches individuals to recognize negative thought patterns and replace them with healthier responses. These strategies allow people to respond calmly rather than react impulsively, reducing feelings of anger and stress.
Improving distress tolerance and reducing impulsivity are key goals in therapies like dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). DBT helps individuals build resilience to emotional discomfort, enabling them to face challenging situations without resorting to harmful behaviors or quick fixes. This reduces impulsive actions, which can be particularly beneficial in addiction recovery.
Building emotional intelligence and empathy is another important aspect of therapy. By increasing self-awareness and understanding emotions, individuals learn to empathize with others. This strengthens relationships and fosters healthier social interactions, which are crucial in long-term recovery.
Therapies often integrate mindfulness, meditation, and breathing exercises to further support emotional regulation. These practices help individuals stay present, manage overwhelming feelings, and create space between an emotional trigger and their response. Mindfulness, in particular, promotes self-awareness and helps reduce reactivity, making it easier to handle stress without becoming emotionally overwhelmed.
If you’re struggling with emotional regulation and feel that it may be linked to a larger problem, reach out to a mental health professional at South Shore Recovery Center. We’re here to help you improve your mental health and address any underlying issues. Call us at (774) 515-2878.
DISCLAIMER: South Shore Recovery Center is licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Substance Addiction Services to provide Outpatient Counseling and Day Treatment Services.
