Emotional Problem

emotional problem

What is an Emotional Problem?

Emotional problem symptoms can include feelings such as anger, anxiety, guilt, fear, and having low self-esteem and low self-confidence, and poor impulse control.  Behaviors can include poor impulse control, being secretive, lying, being judgmental, showing no remorse, not caring about consequences, or unable to trust.  Feelings can come from within you or be due to your environment.

Emotional problems cause legal or financial problems, relationship difficulties, and problems at home, school or work.  They can also include feelings of aggression, agitation, anxiety, and helplessness.  Emotional symptoms need to be taken seriously, because they could lead to inappropriate behaviors, accidents, poor judgment, self-harm, violence, and suicide.  Get help from your support network or a counselor if your emotional symptoms are persistent, create problems, or cause you concern.

Emotional and Physical Symptoms

You can have one or more symptoms at the same time.

Emotional symptoms can include:

• Aggression, irritability or agitation
• Changes in mood, personality or behavior
• Confusion or forgetfulness
• Difficulty with concentration or attention
• Difficulty with memory, thinking, talking, comprehension, writing or reading
• Grandiosity
• Hallucinations or delusions
• Heightened arousal or awareness
• Poor judgment
• Racing thoughts and rapid speech
• Reckless or inappropriate behavior

Physical symptoms can include:

• Appetite and weight changes
• Change in bowel movements
• Fatigue
• General ill feeling
• Nausea with or without vomiting
• Pain or discomfort
• Seizures and tremors
• Shortness of breath
• Sleep disturbances

Causes of an Emotional Problem?

Emotional symptoms can be caused by environment, stress, medications, substance abuse, or personality disorders.  Situations also play a role in emotional problems. These can include traumas, such as the loss of a loved one, loss of a job, or a divorce.   Symptoms may or may not persist as life changes improve.

Ask yourself the following questions to determine if and how an emotional problem is causing distress in your life.  This information will be helpful to your therapist if you find that counseling may help.  Writing the answers down helps because you may not remember important issues during a session.

• When did you first notice your emotional symptoms?
• How would you describe your symptoms?
• Does anything make them better or worse?
• Do you have any other symptoms?
• Do you have any psychiatric or medical problems?
• What medications are you taking?
• Do you drink any alcohol?
• Are you using any illicit drugs?