What Is Emotional Lability?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHistory of the TermSignsTypesCausesImpactTreatmentCoping

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

History of the Term

Signs

Types

Causes

Impact

Treatment

Coping

Close

Emotional lability is the tendency to shift rapidly and dramatically between different emotional states. People with high emotional lability are often described as “sensitive” or having “thin skin.”

They may quickly transition between positive emotions like happiness, joy, excitement, enthusiasm, and amusement. But they also tend to experience negative feelings such as sadness more deeply than others.

The term comes from the Latin wordlabilis,which means “to totter, sway, or move in an unstable manner.” Other terms for emotional lability include labile mood,labile affect, and reactivity.

Emotional lability is commonly seen in people with personality disorders such asborderline personality disorderbut can also occur in conditions likebipolar disorderandpost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

These sudden shifts in mood can be extremely frustrating for family and friends who struggle to understand what triggers these changes and how they might respond when a person with emotional lability is upset.

What Does the Term ‘Emotionally Unstable’ Mean?

History of Emotional Lability

Emotional lability can also seen in the intense mood episodes that characterizebipolar disorder.

Bipolar Disorder vs. BPD: What Are the Differences?

Signs of Emotional Lability

The following are common signs of a labile mood include:

How Negative Emotions Affect Us

Types of Emotional Lability

There are two common types of emotional lability:

Understanding Mania and Manic Episodes

Causes of Emotional Lability

What to Do When You’re Crying Uncontrollably

Impact of Emotional Lability

People with emotional lability often feel as if everyone around them is better or more successful than they are. They may be envious of others who have friends, relationships, or people who respect them.

People with emotional lability may avoid social activities or professional events because they know that their moods could get in the way. This can affect a person’s sense of self-worth, self-confidence, and belief in themselves.

Being unable to control the intensity of emotions can also impair day-to-day life. For example, people with emotional lability may find it challenging to focus on tasks or stay organized. They may also have problems controlling their emotions when they experience bad news, which can cause them distress and anxiety that makes the situation even worse.

Treatment for Emotional Lability

Treatment for emotional lability depends on the underlying cause.For example, a doctor may prescribeantidepressantsto help with mood swings related to depression or bipolar disorder.

In some cases, treatment might involve training instress managementandrelaxation techniquessuch as journaling, deep breathing, and meditation. Therapists can also teach the person to deal with their thoughts and feelings in a healthy and constructive way.Dialectical behavior therapyandcognitive behavior therapyare great options.

How to Develop and Practice Self-Regulation

If your loved one is struggling with emotional lability, make sure they get help. Talk to them about getting diagnosed and working on treatment options that can have a positive impact on their life. If you’re experiencing these symptoms yourself, talk to your doctor about your options.

Coping With Emotional Lability

Coping with emotional labilitycan be challenging. However, there are healthy ways to deal with this problem:

Final Thoughts

If the symptoms of emotional lability cause problems for you in social or professional settings, talk to a therapist about treatment options. If you’re worried about someone else’s mood swings and outbursts, talk to them about getting help from professionals who can provide support.

The Best Online Therapy ProgramsWe’ve tried, tested and written unbiased reviews of the best online therapy programs including Talkspace, Betterhelp, and Regain.

7 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Duchenne de Boulogne GB.The Mechanism of Human Facial Expression. 1st ed. (Cuthbertson RA, ed.). Cambridge University Press; 1990. doi:10.1017/CBO9780511752841McKellar P.Imagination and Thinking: A Psychological Analysis. Cohen & West; 1957.Ahmed A, Simmons Z.Pseudobulbar affect: Prevalence and management.Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2013;9:483-489. doi:10.2147/TCRM.S53906American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR); 2022. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787Barbuti M, Pacchiarotti I, Vieta E, et al.Antidepressant-induced hypomania/mania in patients with major depression: Evidence from the BRIDGE-II-MIX study.J Affect Disord. 2017;219:187-192. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2017.05.035Reich DB, Zanarini MC, Fitzmaurice G.Affective lability in bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder.Compr Psychiatry. 2012;53(3):230-237. doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2011.04.003Iannaccone S, Ferini-Strambi L.Pharmacologic treatment of emotional lability.Clin Neuropharmacol. 1996;19(6):532-535. doi:10.1097/00002826-199619060-00008

7 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Duchenne de Boulogne GB.The Mechanism of Human Facial Expression. 1st ed. (Cuthbertson RA, ed.). Cambridge University Press; 1990. doi:10.1017/CBO9780511752841McKellar P.Imagination and Thinking: A Psychological Analysis. Cohen & West; 1957.Ahmed A, Simmons Z.Pseudobulbar affect: Prevalence and management.Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2013;9:483-489. doi:10.2147/TCRM.S53906American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR); 2022. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787Barbuti M, Pacchiarotti I, Vieta E, et al.Antidepressant-induced hypomania/mania in patients with major depression: Evidence from the BRIDGE-II-MIX study.J Affect Disord. 2017;219:187-192. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2017.05.035Reich DB, Zanarini MC, Fitzmaurice G.Affective lability in bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder.Compr Psychiatry. 2012;53(3):230-237. doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2011.04.003Iannaccone S, Ferini-Strambi L.Pharmacologic treatment of emotional lability.Clin Neuropharmacol. 1996;19(6):532-535. doi:10.1097/00002826-199619060-00008

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Duchenne de Boulogne GB.The Mechanism of Human Facial Expression. 1st ed. (Cuthbertson RA, ed.). Cambridge University Press; 1990. doi:10.1017/CBO9780511752841McKellar P.Imagination and Thinking: A Psychological Analysis. Cohen & West; 1957.Ahmed A, Simmons Z.Pseudobulbar affect: Prevalence and management.Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2013;9:483-489. doi:10.2147/TCRM.S53906American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR); 2022. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787Barbuti M, Pacchiarotti I, Vieta E, et al.Antidepressant-induced hypomania/mania in patients with major depression: Evidence from the BRIDGE-II-MIX study.J Affect Disord. 2017;219:187-192. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2017.05.035Reich DB, Zanarini MC, Fitzmaurice G.Affective lability in bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder.Compr Psychiatry. 2012;53(3):230-237. doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2011.04.003Iannaccone S, Ferini-Strambi L.Pharmacologic treatment of emotional lability.Clin Neuropharmacol. 1996;19(6):532-535. doi:10.1097/00002826-199619060-00008

Duchenne de Boulogne GB.The Mechanism of Human Facial Expression. 1st ed. (Cuthbertson RA, ed.). Cambridge University Press; 1990. doi:10.1017/CBO9780511752841

McKellar P.Imagination and Thinking: A Psychological Analysis. Cohen & West; 1957.

Ahmed A, Simmons Z.Pseudobulbar affect: Prevalence and management.Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2013;9:483-489. doi:10.2147/TCRM.S53906

American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR); 2022. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787

Barbuti M, Pacchiarotti I, Vieta E, et al.Antidepressant-induced hypomania/mania in patients with major depression: Evidence from the BRIDGE-II-MIX study.J Affect Disord. 2017;219:187-192. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2017.05.035

Reich DB, Zanarini MC, Fitzmaurice G.Affective lability in bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder.Compr Psychiatry. 2012;53(3):230-237. doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2011.04.003

Iannaccone S, Ferini-Strambi L.Pharmacologic treatment of emotional lability.Clin Neuropharmacol. 1996;19(6):532-535. doi:10.1097/00002826-199619060-00008

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