Problems controlling strong emotions?

Post Reply New Topic

I used to have a horrible time controlling my emotions. If I was angry I would destroy things (I wouldn't hurt people.. thank goodness). I would slam doors and stuff too. But I am trying to now simply work off my emotions by working out. It does work... I want to change that angry side to myself because I don't want to scare my kids if I get into a fit... and besides I feel like a total fool everytime it happens. But disappointments don't lead me into having a fit (not anymore). Really these days I only get upset like that if I am missing something that I need!

For years, as a child or young adult, I would just start crying uncontrollably and not even know why, which would totally confuse people who were trying to talk to me.

Now, at 40, I'm on meds for my bipolar disorder (and the above is NOT a symptom of THAT) but the meds somehow help these episodes to be much less frequent.

I have an "emergency med" which is a melt-in-your-mouth 2 mg of risperidol that I can take now when I get that way.

My last meltdown was November and I forgot to take it, I was too upset.

when I actually get intense emotions they are usually impossible to control. I guess anger, excitement and anxiety would be the only three that I easily recognise.

I'm pretty zen most of the time though.

I voted yes as well.

I'm pretty bad at controlling my emotions, especially anger/frustration.
I don't usually get big "meltdowns" or anything I just start crying for ages and hitting something or pinching my self, but I never take it out on other people. Last year at review day at school the teacher was talking to me and stuff but I din't agree with anything she said and was suggesting that I stay after school to do homework blah blah. And I just started crying after a while I just coudln't hold it in I was that frustrated and upset.
And I seem to feel things too hard, and the fact that being a very deep thinker doesn't help, so I think about something loads and get upset over trivial things.

So when it comes to emotions, I'm pretty s**t

I also get over excited easily too, and I can't hold that back either. I just go bonkers and I'm like getting in a massive flap and jumping around acting really hypo and scaring people to death lol

I suppose it depends on how you look at it.

If "control" means the ability to keep my emotions from overcoming me - I have complete control. It's been more than a decade since I've let my emotions come to the surface. That was my last meltdown - it was extremely unpleasant.

If "control" means being able to show emotions without letting them take over - I have no control.

It's a switch -off or on. "Off" is not difficult, but it also isn't very satisfying. "On" is something I don't like to contemplate.

I said 'yes', but I feel there's an explanation necessary for that....some emotions, like grief, for example, I do feel but have enormous trouble expressing. Things like anger and stress usually have to build up for awhile, but when I finally really 'feel' them, it's often too late....meltdown time. (This happened today ...this morning.....still recovering)

I used to have a problem with becoming violent and destructive when anger would surface, when I was between the ages of about 9 and mid-20s. Since then, those episodes have dramatically decreased in frequency, though they'll happen rarely. Usually, these days, everything negative, including grief and anger, translates to a stress freak-out that involves way more crying and rocking than breaking and destroying. It's rather embarrassing when it happens, but it's less likely to get me arrested.

Well, at least now I don't have to feel totally alone in this. Now the question is, if a bunch of NT's took this same poll, how much different do you think the results would be? I'm thinking the difference would be less dramatic then you'd think.

Oh yeah.... I forgot about that whole "friends" thing...

I think everyone has trouble with self-control to one degree or another.

What I have trouble with is knowing how to change myself. How does one 'work on' such issues? No one ever seems to provide me with specific enough steps.

I have trouble controlling my emotions sometimes however its not just stuff like anger and sadness its all of them however many times meltdowns occur because of my almost inhuman amount of empathy that sends things haywire.

I have trouble controlling my emotions sometimes however its not just stuff like anger and sadness its all of them however many times meltdowns occur because of my almost inhuman amount of empathy that sends things haywire.