Often, your emotional reactions may be disproportionate to the incident that triggers the emotion, such as feeling so sad you begin to cry over a minimal inconvenience.
Emotional Volatility in BPD
People with BPD often feel emotions much more intensely than others, and it may take longer for those feelings to pass. This means that situations or events that may not faze another person can be highly disruptive and upsetting for someone with BPD. This underlying instability may also be the driving force behind other symptoms of this condition, including impulsivity. This can be very disruptive to your daily life, impacting your relationships, career, mood, and overall functioning. While some medications can help reduce your emotional instability, lifestyle changes can help dramatically impact this symptom. That could include avoiding some unhelpful coping mechanisms you’ve used in the past and adopting techniques designed to help you self-regulate. Before undergoing any treatment plan to address emotional volatility, be sure to talk to your therapist about what’s going on to ensure you don’t interfere with your therapy. They can even help you with these changes to help manage your emotions.
Get Quality Sleep
Have you ever noticed that when you feel tired, you are more likely to be bothered by smaller things? Sleep deprivation can impact the way you perceive and respond to your surroundings. A lack of sleep can cause people to react more negatively to things they would otherwise perceive as neutral. What constitutes a “good night’s sleep”? While the answer varies depending on each individual, most adults should aim for somewhere between seven and nine hours each night. If you have trouble falling or staying asleep, you can do some things to improve your sleep overall and help you get through your days with less emotional turmoil, such as:
Staying on a regular routineAvoiding alcohol and caffeine before bedMaking sure your room temperature is comfortable (and cool)Shutting off lights and electronics at least an hour before bedtime
Exercise
It’s no secret that you will feel better physically and mentally when your body is active. Exercise doesn’t just fight a host of physical health problems that are associated with BPD, it is also a great way to maintain a more stable emotional system. If you don’t have an exercise program, consider consulting with your doctor first to determine which forms of exercise would be best suited for you. Then you can take some steps to begin your own exercise routine:
Start small, and don’t overdo it. If you’re highly motivated to start, you may push yourself too hard and risk injury. Instead, try gradually increasing the duration and/or difficulty of your workouts slowly over time.Experiment with different types of exercise. Trying out a variety of exercises can help you determine which form you like the most—which will make you more likely to stick with it. You may prefer solo workouts, or perhaps something team-oriented keeps you more entertained.Include stress-reducing workouts in your routine. In addition to strength training and cardio, consider taking up calming forms of exercise, like yoga or tai chi. These forms of exercise combine movement with controlled breathing, and they may help you combat stress.
Eat Healthy
You may be more likely to let your diet slip when you feel bad. Negative emotions can lead to urges to eat unhealthy foods, binge eat, or skip meals altogether. You may turn to comfort foods to help you handle stress or depression. Maintaining a healthy diet, however, may improve your mood by ensuring you get the nutrients needed for good mental health (though your results may vary depending on the diet). If you’re not sure where to begin, consider working with your doctor to determine a plan that will work for you.
Practice Self-Care
The best way to reduce emotional ups and downs is to make a commitment to take good care of yourself. With all the demands that you are facing, this can be easier said than done, but it’s well worth the effort to add self-care to your regular routine. This can include any activities that help you feel fulfilled and cared for, like:
Spending time with friends and loved onesEngaging in hobbies you find mentally stimulating or funTaking part in religious or spiritual activities, if those suit your lifestyleManaging your stress through relaxation or meditationEnsuring your overall health is cared for by eating well, getting adequate sleep, and exercising
Create Structure
Think about the times that you find yourself experiencing periods of emotional volatility. If you’re more likely to feel them during your downtime when you have no other activities planned, creating a structured routine could help you stay occupied and more emotionally stable. Creating a consistent daily schedule lets you know what to expect, which may help you feel better prepared to meet each day and more secure overall. Following a routine can also ensure you set aside time for other healthy activities, such as exercising, practicing self-care, and preparing healthy meals.
Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness can help you refocus your attention during moments of emotional instability. Mindfulness involves learning to become more aware and observant of yourself and your surroundings and encourages you to live in the present, without judgment. Living mindfully means paying attention to the sights, sounds, and smells around you and the sensations within you. You can practice mindfulness at any time during your day by purposefully tuning in to those details. You can try this by:
Noticing the tastes and textures of your food while you eat a mealPaying attention to the feeling of the warm water on your body during a showerNoting the temperature and sensation of drinking a hot cup of coffeeFocusing on the way your body feels during a yoga session
Meditate
While mindfulness is something that you can engage in at any time, meditation is a more structured practice. It’s often done in a quiet place that’s free from distractions, which allows you to focus on something specific, like your breath, a specific object, or a mantra. Scheduling regular meditation sessions for set time periods may help you manage your overall stress. Research on meditation suggests that the practice may carry a number of benefits, like:
Less anxiety and depressionReduced insomniaBetter overall mood
Mindfulness meditation is structured, meaning it involves setting aside a certain amount of time to allow yourself to get comfortable and focus. Generally, mindfulness meditation encourages you to pay attention to your body and breath, while noticing thoughts as they occur.
Ground Yourself
Grounding techniques are intended to help you focus your attention during those moments when you’re feeling overwhelmed with emotion. They work by pulling your thoughts away from the intense emotion you’re experiencing, directing your attention instead toward something more neutral, like a sight, smell, sound, or tactile sensation. Mindfulness is a key component of grounding. One grounding technique, called the 5-4-3-2-1 method, relies on your senses to focus your attention on your surroundings. To try the 5-4-3-2-1 method, focus on:
Five things you seeFour things you can touchThree things you hearTwo things you smellOne thing you taste
Seek Treatment
Dealing with the emotional instability that often accompanies BPD can be a challenge for anyone, but you don’t have to go through it alone. BPD is a treatable condition with a good prognosis possible.
Engaging in a breathing exercise Snapping a rubber band gently on your wrist Holding an ice cube or running your hands under cold water Smelling something fragrant, like a candle, essential oil, or spice Touching something soft, like a rug or blanket, and noting the texture Observing your surroundings and noting objects based on specific criteria (e.g., finding all of the red items in the room or locating objects that begin with the letter “A”)
Professional help can also ensure that you receive treatment for any other conditions you’re currently experiencing. People with BPD often have a co-occurring condition, which will impact their treatment options. These conditions can include:
Anxiety disordersMood disordersSubstance use disorders
The treatment options available for BPD are varied. Psychotherapy is the first-line treatment, but medications are also sometimes prescribed to help people manage specific symptoms, such as anxiety or depression.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a very effective technique for managing this condition’s symptoms. DBT encourages you to learn skills that will help you self-regulate and manage symptoms.
Other Types of Therapy
DBT is not the only option available for people with BPD, and you may find that you thrive with another form of therapy. Other options you might consider include:
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) Mentalization-based therapy (MBT) Schema-focused therapy (SFT) Transference-focused therapy (TFT) Systems training for emotional predictability training (STEPPS)
The important thing is to find a healthcare provider you feel comfortable with and determine what works best for you.
A Word From Verywell
Emotional instability is difficult to deal with, but it is something that you can learn to overcome. With practice, these tips and techniques can help you deal with emotional dysregulation so you can feel more secure and grounded. If you need additional help, reach out to your healthcare provider for treatment options.
