Emotional Imbalances & Difficulty Regulating Emotions

This is a theory of how people differ when it comes to their emotions. Looking into emotional imbalances, or those who have difficulty regulating emotions.

Emotional Scale/Power Meter (Theory)

If you think of emotions as being on a scale, or a power meter, so, emotions can be non-existent on one end, and intense at the other end.

Normal State

The normal state is the state in which we are in the majority of the time. So, no particular current issues that could cause our emotions to kick in, such as stressful situations, or situations that result in heightened anxiety.

The normal state is like the default level of emotion that we may feel. So, on the scale, let’s say it’s at 30percent (estimate) emotional power.

This estimate represents the mean, or average level of emotion, that the majority has in their (normal state). If there is an average, then obviously there are those who differ from the average, either on the higher or lower end of the emotional power scale.

Why do some people have difficulty with regulating emotions?

Difficulty regulating emotions can stem from a mix of biological, psychological, and environmental factors. Biologically, imbalances in neurotransmitters like serotonin or dopamine, or heightened activity in the amygdala (the brain’s emotion centre), can make emotional responses harder to manage.

Conditions like ADHD, autism, or borderline personality disorder often involve emotional dysregulation due to differences in brain wiring. Psychologically, poor coping skills, low emotional awareness, or unprocessed trauma can amplify emotional reactivity. Environmentally, chronic stress, unstable relationships, or early childhood adversity (like neglect or abuse) can disrupt the development of self-regulation skills.

Big Five Personality Traits

The big five traits that are likely to be related to this are high neuroticism. This means high negative emotions, basically creating an imbalance between the positive and negative. Low agreeableness (disagreeable) is connected to a high interest in things vs people. A strong interest in things over people may suggest that the emotion power scale is at the lower end.

Very low or very high in extroversion could also cause issues, as extroversion is the positive emotion trait. An extreme in either direction could potentially lead to an imbalance. These traits are largely considered to be genetic.

MBTI Personality Types

Some personality types on the MBTI also suggest differences in the way the different types handle emotions. The preference or type (thinkers) and (feelers) directly relate to a scale of emotions. One type, such as the INTP, has lower levels of emotion ordinarily. However, due to their feeling function being their weakest or inferior function, their emotions become more intense in stressful or difficult situations.