Emotion Regulation & Anxiety Disorder

When emotions are disregulated, they become poorly processed. This can result in anxiety disorder. There are many causes of disregulation of emotions. Anxiety caused by disregulation can be treated. One of the main ways of treating anxiety and disregulation of emotions is therapy.

Functions

• Emotions are ever-changing.

  Emotions are survival adaptations that are used to cope in society. The brain has multiple interacting systems that are used to control emotions. Healthy emotions mutually regulate through changing environments. When they become out of hand, anxiety may occur.

Causes

• Understanding emotions is vital.

  Heightened intensity of emotions can result in dis-regulation and anxiety. Other causes of anxiety and dis-regulation are poor understanding of emotions, negative thinking about one's emotional state, and improper responses to emotions. When emotions are uncontrolled, anxiety and dis-regulation can prevail.

Self Treatment

• Identifying triggers can help control anxiety.

  Some methods of regulating anxiety through self management are trying to delete causes or "triggers", finding more ways to monitor emotions, and developing more coping skills.

Therapy

• Therapy brings life back.

  Traditional emotion regulation of anxiety is through therapy. This therapy includes psycho-education, monitoring, and review of past history of anxiety development. Other therapeutic methods are skill training to become more aware of emotions and using these skills to confront "triggers" by doing experiential exercises. Proper follow up, progress review, and relapse prevention are all part of therapy.

Benefits

• There is always a rainbow after the storm.

  The benefits of emotion regulation on anxiety are numerous. By understanding what part emotions play in functioning, causes of dis-regulation that leads to anxiety, treatment, and therapy, anxiety sufferers can stay one step ahead of their emotions.