Before we consider how emotions work in the person with BPD let’s understand the basic principles behind emotions.
Emotions are complex psychological and physiological states that influence how individuals perceive and respond to the world around them. They play a significant role in shaping our thoughts, behavior, and overall well-being. Here are some key aspects of emotions:
Types of Emotions:
Concentrated Emotional Chaos - This phrase evokes a powerful image of intense and overwhelming emotions that are tightly packed, quick moving, and/or hyper focused on a specific idea or experience, that spawn’s new irrational thoughts, and the cycle continues. It describes a state where feelings are particularly potent and difficult to process or contain. This is BPD emotions.
Imagine a scenario where someone is experiencing a whirlwind of emotions – from joy to sorrow, anger to love – all at once, with such intensity that it feels almost overwhelming. This could be due to a variety of factors, such as a significant life event, a sudden revelation, or BPD.
In literature or art, "Concentrated Emotional Chaos" could be depicted through vivid descriptions, chaotic imagery, or a burst of colors and shapes. It might be portrayed as a storm of conflicting feelings that swirl and collide, creating a sense of tumultuous beauty or destructive force. I have always described my thoughts and emotions as being similar to thousands of scribbled lines and circles engaging with one another in all colors with clouds and lightning thrown in the middle, topped off with never ending lurid tinnitus.
These highs and lows, mixed with bouts of extreme anger, are difficult on relationships. People with BPD will often lash out at loved ones, cursing and being violent. I am no exception. Most of my relationships, blood and otherwise, have been negatively affected by these emotional outbursts. Most of my associations, including members of my family, romantic interactions, and companionable friendships have all been destroyed due to my Concentrated Emotional Chaos and the baggage it tows.
This can lead to depression, anxiety, and seeking to “numb” with drugs or alcohol. I spent most of my adult life addicted to one substance or another, pain pills, heroin, cocaine, alcohol, etc. None of them brought long-term relief or a solution. In fact, consuming drugs and alcohol only complicated my BPD life, but once you’re addicted, nothing else matters but “getting right.”
Someone experiencing Concentrated Emotional Chaos might be struggling with BPD and thrashing to find clarity or stability amidst a flood of feelings. This often makes people with BPD seem selfish or narcissistic. But in reality, the concentrated emotional chaos is so intense the outside world gets blocked and all we see, hear, think, and feel are the BPD emotions hitting us all at once. This is no doubt a challenging experience, but it is also a potentially transformative experience, as it often accompanies moments of deep introspection and growth.
Facing the flood of emotions and dealing with them one by one is no easy task. It is difficult and frustrating at times. But the reward outweighs the effort. Once you have dealt with these emotions and irrational thoughts, you feel stronger, empowered. In return you are more motivated to fix all the issues that come up. This leads to increased confidence and peace of mind.
Ultimately, "Concentrated Emotional Chaos" is a vivid phrase that encapsulates the intensity of BPD emotion and the complex interplay of feelings that can shape our lives in profound ways. In healing we learn to recognize and acknowledge the emotions without allowing them to control our lives. It takes great effort and consistent work to learn how to deal with the Concentrated Emotional Chaos, but it can be done.
~Will
Emotions are complex psychological and physiological states that influence how individuals perceive and respond to the world around them. They play a significant role in shaping our thoughts, behavior, and overall well-being. Here are some key aspects of emotions:
Types of Emotions:
- Basic Emotions: These are considered to be universal across cultures and include emotions like happiness, sadness, anger, fear, surprise, and disgust.
- Complex Emotions: These are combinations or variations of basic emotions. Examples include love, jealousy, guilt, and pride.
- Emotions are often accompanied by physical changes in the body. For example, when you experience fear, your heart rate may increase, and you may feel a surge of adrenaline.
- Emotions involve a cognitive appraisal of a situation. This means that we interpret events and situations in a way that triggers an emotional response.
- Emotions can be expressed through facial expressions, body language, tone of voice, and gestures. Different cultures may have varying norms for how emotions are expressed.
- Emotions are subjective and can vary greatly from person to person. What elicits a strong emotional response in one individual may not have the same effect on another.
- Communication: Emotions can convey information to others about our internal state and needs.
- Motivation: They can drive behavior. For example, fear can motivate us to avoid danger, while joy can motivate us to seek out pleasurable experiences.
- Decision-Making: Emotions can influence the decisions we make. For instance, feeling angry might lead to a confrontational response, whereas feeling sad might lead to withdrawal.
- People have varying levels of emotional regulation, which refers to the ability to manage and control one's emotions. This can be influenced by factors such as upbringing, personality traits, and life experiences.
- This is the ability to recognize, understand, and manage one's own emotions, as well as the ability to recognize, understand, and influence the emotions of others. It is considered an important aspect of social and interpersonal skills.
- Emotions can have a profound impact on physical and mental health. Chronic stress, for example, can lead to a range of health problems.
- Cultural norms and values can shape how emotions are expressed and interpreted. What is considered an appropriate emotional response can vary widely from one culture to another.
Concentrated Emotional Chaos - This phrase evokes a powerful image of intense and overwhelming emotions that are tightly packed, quick moving, and/or hyper focused on a specific idea or experience, that spawn’s new irrational thoughts, and the cycle continues. It describes a state where feelings are particularly potent and difficult to process or contain. This is BPD emotions.
Imagine a scenario where someone is experiencing a whirlwind of emotions – from joy to sorrow, anger to love – all at once, with such intensity that it feels almost overwhelming. This could be due to a variety of factors, such as a significant life event, a sudden revelation, or BPD.
In literature or art, "Concentrated Emotional Chaos" could be depicted through vivid descriptions, chaotic imagery, or a burst of colors and shapes. It might be portrayed as a storm of conflicting feelings that swirl and collide, creating a sense of tumultuous beauty or destructive force. I have always described my thoughts and emotions as being similar to thousands of scribbled lines and circles engaging with one another in all colors with clouds and lightning thrown in the middle, topped off with never ending lurid tinnitus.
These highs and lows, mixed with bouts of extreme anger, are difficult on relationships. People with BPD will often lash out at loved ones, cursing and being violent. I am no exception. Most of my relationships, blood and otherwise, have been negatively affected by these emotional outbursts. Most of my associations, including members of my family, romantic interactions, and companionable friendships have all been destroyed due to my Concentrated Emotional Chaos and the baggage it tows.
This can lead to depression, anxiety, and seeking to “numb” with drugs or alcohol. I spent most of my adult life addicted to one substance or another, pain pills, heroin, cocaine, alcohol, etc. None of them brought long-term relief or a solution. In fact, consuming drugs and alcohol only complicated my BPD life, but once you’re addicted, nothing else matters but “getting right.”
Someone experiencing Concentrated Emotional Chaos might be struggling with BPD and thrashing to find clarity or stability amidst a flood of feelings. This often makes people with BPD seem selfish or narcissistic. But in reality, the concentrated emotional chaos is so intense the outside world gets blocked and all we see, hear, think, and feel are the BPD emotions hitting us all at once. This is no doubt a challenging experience, but it is also a potentially transformative experience, as it often accompanies moments of deep introspection and growth.
Facing the flood of emotions and dealing with them one by one is no easy task. It is difficult and frustrating at times. But the reward outweighs the effort. Once you have dealt with these emotions and irrational thoughts, you feel stronger, empowered. In return you are more motivated to fix all the issues that come up. This leads to increased confidence and peace of mind.
Ultimately, "Concentrated Emotional Chaos" is a vivid phrase that encapsulates the intensity of BPD emotion and the complex interplay of feelings that can shape our lives in profound ways. In healing we learn to recognize and acknowledge the emotions without allowing them to control our lives. It takes great effort and consistent work to learn how to deal with the Concentrated Emotional Chaos, but it can be done.
~Will