Emotions are responsible for bringing meaning and connection to our lives. And, contrary to what many think, even negative feelings play an important role in our development as a human being. However, when these emotions are not in balance, the effects are felt not only in the mind but also in the body.
Among the most common signs that a person is experiencing some kind of psychological wobble is sudden and frequent mood swings, as well as overreactions to unexpected events. However, as easy as it is to identify these behaviors in others, it is not always so simple to recognize them in ourselves.
That’s because those who suffer from instability tend to believe that this is just an indication of a “strong personality” or a characteristic of those who feel emotions very intensely. People in your social circle, in turn, are afraid to point out the problem, fearing an aggressive reaction. Therefore, it is essential that we reflect on ourselves and seek to recognize these and other attitudes in ourselves.
To help you with this mission, we’ve prepared a guide with five warning signs for a possible emotional imbalance. Check out.
Insomnia or difficulty sleeping
People who are facing an emotional imbalance tend to spend a good part of their time thinking about problems, including at bedtime. Another very common situation is to mentally relive negative situations, which ends up increasing anxiety levels. As a result, they stay awake all night or fail to reach the state of deep sleep, when the muscles finally relax and the body becomes less sensitive to external stimuli.
Although everyone experiences sporadic episodes of insomnia during their lives, people who are emotionally unbalanced often face the problem, which can result in memory disorders, anxiety, low professional performance, difficulties in socializing and even increased risk of accidents for those who drive, as they may end up dozing off at the wheel.
In these cases, a good tip for those who suffer from this disorder is to try to exhaust the body a few hours before going to sleep, through physical exercises. However, avoid choosing high-intensity activities or activities that have a lot of impact on the muscles, as this type of training can increase cortisol levels, due to the stress your body goes through to perform the movements.
Concentration problems
Another recurring symptom in those with unstable emotions is the difficulty in concentrating, even if it is to perform activities considered fun or pleasurable. This happens because, many times, the person is dealing with conflicting feelings, being distracted by what is happening around them.
For individuals who have not been clinically diagnosed with attention deficit disorder, also known as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), the problem can have a variety of origins, from mental exhaustion, due to intense routine, to depression. Sleep disorders and a sedentary lifestyle also impact the ability to stay focused.
If you’re feeling more distracted than usual, try eliminating stimuli that can divert your attention, such as your cell phone or television, and try to focus on what needs to be done, one task at a time. If, even so, the problem persists, try to consult a psychologist to understand the real reason for the lack of concentration, since it is often associated with feelings of insecurity, fear of making mistakes and perfectionism.
Irritability and dissatisfaction
Emotionally unbalanced people tend to get worked up when things don’t go as they planned. Even small day-to-day unforeseen events can cause disproportionate reactions, which end up stressing not only the individual but everyone around him.
These people are usually harsh and aggressive in their relationships, whether with their partners, children or co-workers, and they tend to generate arguments and fights for no apparent reason, making coexistence difficult.
Another sign is constant dissatisfaction with life itself, making it impossible to enjoy the good times. It is important to emphasize that, in healthy doses, dissatisfaction can be the driving force behind change, making us seek a better version of ourselves. However, emotionally unstable people live in a chronic state of heartbreak.
This makes them set unrealistic goals and always strive for perfection, taking a long time to perform a simple task, such as organizing a closet, for example. In addition, they do not tolerate failure, being extremely critical of both themselves and others.
Out of control
Directly linked to the previous topic, lack of control is one of the main characteristics of emotionally unbalanced people. Those who are going through this instability tend to let emotions speak louder than reason and end up losing control of their own actions.
Many times, the person does not even realize what they are doing until they are alerted. This includes swinging your legs non-stop, biting your nails, or constantly fiddling with your hair, even pulling it out by the roots.
Other signs can manifest verbally, when the individual says everything he wants to say, without filtering the words, even exaggerating situations and even lying in the process, in an attempt to transfer responsibility for his lack of control to the other.
These people often feel that they have lost control of their lives, that nothing is going according to their needs and that no one meets their expectations. This causes feelings of irritability and dissatisfaction to surface, creating a cycle of problem behaviors.
physical pain
Symptoms of emotional instability affect not only the mind but also the body, and can often be the first noticeable sign of imbalance. This happens because, in situations of emotional overload, the organism sends signals to warn that the psychological needs care.
The most common physical manifestation is a constant headache, but it is also possible to experience muscle pain, as muscles tend to contract when we are tense or nervous, and gastrointestinal problems such as constipation or diarrhea. Other common signs of someone experiencing a nervous breakdown are tremors, spots on the body, increased heart rate, nausea, rapid breathing and shortness of breath.
These symptoms develop because stress and anxiety raise levels of hormones in the blood, such as adrenaline and cortisol, and increase nerve activity in the brain. Therefore, organs such as the stomach, intestines, skin and heart, which have a direct connection with the brain, are the first to be affected by emotional changes.
