Behavioral dysregulation is characterized by difficulty in effectively managing one’s actions and responses, often driven by unhelpful thought patterns and intense emotional experiences, leading to undesirable outcomes. It is the failure to consciously and adaptively modify behavior in response to internal or external cues. Whether it manifests as impulsive actions (e.g., spending sprees, substance use), avoidance behaviors (e.g., procrastination, social withdrawal), or angry outbursts, the behavior falls under the umbrella of dysregulation when it is a direct consequence of unmanaged cognitive distortions (e.g., “I can’t cope,” “It’s not fair”) or overwhelming emotional states (e.g., intense anger, anxiety, sadness), and is performed without a planned, effective purpose for positive change.
