“Your emotions are very unstable and should never be the foundation for direction in your life.” – Joyce Me
Being emotionally unstable can be a sign of a greater issue within a person. Being emotionally unstable can mean a personality disorder such as borderline personality disorder. It can also be a sign of childhood trauma, depression or anxiety disorder. The signs of an emotionally unstable person can vary. They may show signs of depression and anxiety, while also exhibiting a number of behaviors that can affect both themselves and the people around them.
Counselling Directory adds, “They may also have intense bouts of anger, anxiety or depression that can last several hours or even days. Mood swings will vary between periods of dysphoria to periods of euphoria, and from manic self-confidence to severe anxiety and irritability.”
If you know someone who you suspect may be emotionally unstable, it’s important to recognize the signs so that you’re better prepared to understand them and what they need. You’ll also be prepared to support them without allowing their behaviors to personally affect you, or to get them the help that they need to work through these behaviors.
Here Are 4 Behaviors Of Someone Who’s Emotionally Unstable
1. They’re more into impulsive actions
Someone who is emotionally unstable may be more prone to act impulsively. They may do things that could harm themselves and others without thinking it through all the way. For example, someone who is emotionally unstable may be more likely to drive their car extremely fast, or drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Their impulsive actions are much more likely to be geared towards danger. They also may be more prone to impulsive spending or gambling. They have very little self-control and may not entirely understand delayed gratification. Doing these things may make them feel good for short periods of time, because they’re unable to.
2. They have anger issues
One of the biggest hallmarks of an emotionally unstable person is anger issues. An emotionally unstable person will oftentimes have issues controlling how they express their anger. They may snap back and forth between being perfectly pleasant and being extremely furious. They’re not able to control their emotions in a healthy manner. While they may just as well be prone to outbursts of sadness or happiness, their anger is much more damaging. They may shout and scream when they’re angry, or they may express their anger through violent actions. This doesn’t always mean that they’ll physically harm the person that they’re angry with, but they may slam doors and push objects.
However, assistant clinical professor of psychiatry Dr. Carol W. Berman states, “The most important tool is not to internalize the person’s behavior, or take it too personally. Remember, it’s not about you. People with borderline personality disorder aren’t fully aware of their behavior and the effect on other people.”
3. On again, off again relationships
Someone who is emotionally unstable will have a hard time keeping their relationships stable as well. They may volley between feeling very affectionately towards a person, and then feeling badly about them as well. Not only that, but they have a hard time keeping a stable relationship. They may start arguments and break up with their significant others, only to want to get back together after a few hours or days.
Former FBI Counterintelligence Agent and author Joe Navarro, M.A. says, “No one calls them “eggshell relationships,” but that is what they turn into. Relationships where you have to tread lightly—each day you wake up you are figuratively having to walk on eggshells because your partner or someone you know behaves or acts all too frequently with a constellation of traits that are just simply toxic. So toxic, that you have to be ever so careful around them lest they lash out at you. They do so because they are emotionally unstable.”
Their romantic relationships aren’t the only one that suffer, however. People who are emotionally stable have difficulty maintaining any type of relationships. Their friendships can suffer as well as their relationships with their family members. They may be estranged from their families and friends because their relationships suffer.
4. They have extreme reactions
Much like their anger issues, people who are emotionally unstable often have extreme reactions to situations that are either real or perceived. If they perceive that they’re being wronged in some way, they may have a stronger reaction right away instead of finding out more about the situation. Their perception of the world may be off, and they will react to that rather than the reality of the situation.
One of the most common perceptions that can cause an extreme reaction in emotionally unstable people is perceived abandonment. If they feel like their family or friends are abandoning them, whether or not this is true, it can cause them to have an extremely negative reaction.
Final thoughts
People who suffer from emotional instability are often people who have suffered through some kind of trauma in their lives. They have had trouble developing the tools they need to keep their emotions in line. Oftentimes, people who are emotionally unstable can benefit from having a strong support system, as well as therapy and sometimes medication.
Emotionally unstable people often don’t mean to affect the people around them, but it can sometimes happen. If someone you know and are close to has issues with being emotionally stable, recognizing these behaviors can help you figure out what type of help they need to get them on the right track.
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References:
http://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/borderline.html
https://www.bustle.com/articles/142966-9-signs-your-friend-has-borderline-personality-disorder
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/spycatcher/201601/eggshell-relationships
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