When your relationship is an ’emotional rollercoaster,’ it has many highs and lows, often in quick succession. One day you’re arguing vehemently. The next day, you’re overjoyed and close. It may be difficult to predict how things will be on any given day or when they will shift from one state to another. People sometimes describe these relationships as “drama-filled” or “passion-filled.”
Emotional Rollercoaster Meaning
The emotional rollercoaster is when you are elated one minute and sad the next. It’s a roller coaster of emotions that can leave you feeling befuddled and emotionally exhausted. Getting off can seem impossible if you feel like you’re on an emotional rollercoaster. That’s understandable because it’s difficult to think logically or act rationally when your emotions are out of control.
Signs that you are on an Emotional Rollercoaster
An emotional rollercoaster is uncontrollable. It’s like being strapped in and never allowed to leave something that makes you feel horrible, scared, and constantly insecure. If you’re in a relationship that sends you on an emotional rollercoaster, it’s unhealthy and rarely ends well. The ride has to come to an end at some point.
Related Article: HOW TO STOP FIGHTING IN A RELATIONSHIP: Tips, Exercise, & All You Need
At some point, a rider on an emotionally charged rollercoaster will wave the white flag and request that the operator stops so they can exit. Here are some indicators that you’re riding an emotional rollercoaster.
#1. You love and despise them all in a single month, day, or week.
The thing about roller coasters is that they cause extreme highs and lows. That’s what makes it so thrilling. It’s not as much fun when the highs and lows are emotional.
#2. Security is ephemeral.
It’s an emotional roller coaster when you feel like you’re right where you belong and they’re the best thing in your life, and then you’re looking through their phone to figure out who they are.
#3. You’re feeling more empty than full.
We are sometimes drawn to people who are not suitable for us. If you are a people pleaser or enjoy discovering the diamond in the rough, being with someone who has two distinct personalities can be difficult. If you only feel full and satisfied when they make you come alive, you will be on an emotional rollercoaster for the rest of your life.
#4. You’re constructing a future, and then you’re asked to leave.
It is the worst ride if you are with someone working on your future one day and then becomes upset and ask you to leave the next. Some people use manipulation to gain an advantage over others. The pushes and pulls are what keep you in line. If they tell you one minute that your future is bright but the next that they want you to leave, it may be time to cash in your tickets and spend your money elsewhere.
#5. Self-doubt
Sometimes an emotional roller coaster is caused by your past experiences rather than your current relationship. If you are fine and in love for one minute and then convince yourself that it will never work, it is all because of the ride you have created.
#6. He loves me; he loves me not.
It can be very confusing if you think you’re on your way to the altar and they tell you that you’re their number one, but then they put the brakes on to slow things down. Living on an emotional rollercoaster without a plan for the future and constantly looking for signs of your relationship’s direction can be exhausting. Someone who is unsure whether they are ready to commit can be tough to deal with.
How will Being on an Emotional Rollercoaster Affect You?
Maintaining this relationship requires a significant amount of energy, so it can be challenging to focus on other aspects of your life. Dealing with negative emotions is complex, and going from highs to lows in quick succession can be exhausting. This relationship rhythm can cause uncertainty because you don’t know where you stand on any given day. People in this type of relationship frequently describe themselves as “consumed” by it, implying that it has taken over their lives.
Related Article: Mixed Anxiety Depressive Disorder: Common Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments
One of the most problematic aspects of emotional rollercoaster relationships is that they can become habitual. While they can be extremely exhausting and even traumatic, they can also be fascinating, fun, and engaging. When we work with couples in this type of relationship, the word “passion” comes up frequently. Although partners may see many positives in their relationship, the constant drama can be overwhelming and confusing.
Ways to Cope with Emotional Rollercoaster
Begin by identifying the source of your upsetting emotions. Because you are emotionally sensitive, your feelings may be intense and rapidly changing. If you’re emotionally confused and don’t know what’s going to happen next, the roller coaster may arrive. What happens isn’t always as important as what you pay attention to. What you tell yourself about your situation may also amplify your emotions.
#1. Dealing with the Feeling
When riding an emotional rollercoaster, one of the first things you may need to learn is how to deal with those emotions. Remember that having emotions is a necessary part of maintaining good mental health. However, if your emotions are overwhelming, you can cope with them in the following ways.
Feelings must be experienced, recognized, and accepted.
Allowing yourself to feel your emotions is one way to deal with your emotional rollercoaster. Hiding or denying your feelings may be counterproductive in the long run. Allow yourself a few moments to sit with your current emotions and feel them before you try to do anything about them.
It is also critical to accept your emotions. You do not have to let them rule your life. You don’t even have to enjoy your feelings. All you have to do is accept that this is how you feel. You can then decide what to do next. This will make the emotional rollercoaster less terrifying.
Appropriately express your feelings
Expressing your emotions can assist you in coming to terms with them. However, describing them inappropriately can lead to practical and interpersonal issues. It can also prolong the rollercoaster ride by creating situations that are even more distressing than before.
#2. Concentrate on Positive Emotions.
It’s easy to become obsessed with negative emotions at times. They are, after all, the most painful. They can also make you believe something is seriously wrong, even if you know everything is fine. You must address your negative emotions. However, it is usually beneficial to focus on positive emotions and keep your mind on more uplifting thoughts after that.
Related Article: MIXED SIGNALS: How to Read, Interpret & Deal with 10 Most Common Signals
Work on your feelings through your thoughts
While you cannot directly change your emotions, how you think affects them. Here are some ways of thinking that can help you feel more stable and steady:
Consider the big picture.
The big picture provides more context for your problems and successes. When you can see it, you’re more likely to recognize that what’s happening to you isn’t the best or worst possible outcome, allowing you to get off the emotional rollercoaster.
Employ positive self-talk.
What you say to and about yourself significantly impacts how you feel. Consider the following scenario: You failed a test. If you tell yourself it’s because you’re stupid, you’ll probably feel depressed or hopeless about it. Instead of feeling sad, tell yourself that it was because you didn’t prepare for the test, and you might be motivated to try harder the next time.
Exercise forgiveness
Forgiving someone else can help you feel more at ease and in control. You are not alone if you are contemplating on how someone has wronged you. That is something that many people do at some point in their lives. However, if you learn to forgive, you will be able to stop focusing on the pain and return to a more stable emotional state.
Exercise mindfulness
Mindfulness entails being fully aware of your surroundings and the sensations you are experiencing at the time. Being mindful allows you to avoid dwelling on past wrongs or obsessing over future fears. You can become calmer and more emotionally centered by keeping your thoughts on the present moment.
Related Article: HOW TO TELL YOUR WIFE YOU WANT A DIVORCE: EFFECTIVE STEPS AND TIPS FOR ANYONE
Select behaviors that promote emotional stability.
Your emotions may be out of control, but your actions do not have to be. One key to successfully getting off the emotional rollercoaster is to do things that will help you achieve your long-term goals rather than something your emotions will make you want to do right away.
#3. Avoid Taking Action Based on Rapidly Changing Emotions
When you know you’re on an emotional rollercoaster, it’s not a good idea to make decisions based on how you feel. Imagine you were overjoyed and decided it would be a great idea to buy a new car. Then, a few minutes later, your feelings may turn negative, prompting you to return to the dealer and try to get your money back. Instead of acting on feelings that change so quickly, take more time to think before making a significant decision.
#4. Pursue the Goals That Are Important to You.
When people try to do things because they believe they are “supposed to,” they frequently experience intense feelings ranging from sadness to disappointment in themselves to fear of the future. By pursuing the goals important to you, you may avoid the unnecessary emotional upheaval that often results from doing things you do not believe are right for you.
#5. Create Healthy Relationships
In many ways, being in a healthy relationship can help you avoid the emotional rollercoaster. For starters, you aren’t constantly dealing with someone who is out to hurt you or has no compassion for you. Second, the relationship provides emotional support. Finally, if you require therapist assistance, your loved one may recognize your distress and encourage you to seek help.
#6. Take Good Care of Your Physical Health.
Recognize the Symptoms of these Mental Illnesses. Taking care of your body contributes to a more peaceful mind. Getting enough rest, eating healthy foods, and exercising regularly can help you feel physically better, which improves your emotional well-being and reduces the emotional rollercoaster.
Related Article: HOW TO STOP THINKING ABOUT PORN: Best Foolproof Methods for Anyone
Conclusion
Are you riding an emotional rollercoaster and unable to get off on your own? If this is the case, the next logical step is to consult with a counselor. A therapist can help you in various ways, whether you have a mental disorder or need to talk things out and learn some coping skills. Your counselor can use various psychological techniques to assist you in experiencing, identifying, and expressing your emotions. They can provide support as you struggle to deal with your feelings. If you do have a mental disorder, they can teach you how to cope with its symptoms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you have emotional rollercoaster?
When we are angry or hurt, we may need to try to change our circumstances to feel better. Some people’s emotional lives, on the other hand, resemble a roller coaster rather than a barometer, with ups and downs that leave them exhausted and depleted.
How do you use an emotional rollercoaster?
It’ll be an emotional roller coaster. It was a roller coaster of emotions. My relationship with my boyfriend is a roller coaster of emotions. She clearly adores you, but the university can be an emotional roller coaster for many students.
Why do I feel so emotionally drained?
What causes emotional fatigue? Daily stress and anxiety are normal, but chronic stress can be harmful to the body over time. Emotional exhaustion is caused by a long period of constant life stress, whether from personal or work-related stress.
How can you tell if someone is emotionally unstable?
EUPD Signs and Symptoms
- Impulsivity.
- Mood changes.
- Crippling fear of abandonment.
- Anxiety and irritability to the extreme.
- Anger.
- Suspiciousness of others and paranoia
- Feeling empty, hopeless, and unimportant.
- Suicidal ideation
