Emotional outbursts can mentally and emotionally distress the person experiencing them due to an inability to manage their emotions.
It can also damage interpersonal, school, or work relationships.
This article gives an overview of emotional outbursts, including examples, causes, symptoms, and more.
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For children still learning to respond to strong emotions appropriately, certain situations may trigger them.
When the ability to manage negative emotions is impaired, people have emotional dysregulation.
Consult your healthcare provider to ensure you are getting the help you need.
Feeling frustrated or angry from time to time is a normal response to stressful situations.
Outbursts in adulthood could be due to childhood maltreatment or neglect, psychological issues, or brain trauma.
These tools can help you and your healthcare provider identify the best strategies to manage your feelings.
A Word From Verywell
Having intense emotions is a normal part of life.
However, if you are experiencing uncontrolled and sudden episodes of anger, you could be having emotional outbursts.
Even older children and teenagers may experience emotional outbursts.
Emotional dysregulation is the term for when you could’t control your emotions.
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.The Emotional Outburst Inventory (EMO-I).
2021;94(S2):426-463. doi:10.1111/papt.12283
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Coping with anger.
Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies.Deciding when to seek treatment.