Affective Storm

Affective storm: an explosion of emotions and motor excitement

An affective storm is a condition in which a person suddenly faces an explosion of emotions, accompanied by violent motor excitement. This condition can be caused by various factors, including stressful situations, crises, trauma, mental disorders and drugs.

During a mood storm, a person may feel intense rage, anger, fear, madness, panic, or other emotions that may be stronger than usual. Some people may experience physical symptoms such as a rapid heartbeat, sweating, trembling, or even seizures.

Violent motor excitement can also accompany an affective storm. The person may run, scream, bang their head against the wall, throw things, or attack others aggressively. In some cases, this may result in injury or dangerous situations.

People suffering from mental disorders such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or post-traumatic stress disorder may often experience mood swings. These conditions can alter a person's perception of the world around them and their ability to control their emotions and behavior.

Treatment for affective storms may include psychotherapy, medication, and other methods. The goal of treatment is to help a person learn to manage their emotions and behavior during emotional storms and to prevent new episodes from occurring.

In conclusion, moodiness is a serious condition that can have negative consequences for the health and safety of the person and those around them. Treating and managing affective storms are important steps to maintaining a person's health and well-being.



Affective storm is a concept used in psychology and psychiatry to describe a state of sudden and violent emotional arousal. Such arousal can manifest itself in the form of explosive emotions, which are accompanied by motor and speech disorders. Affective storms can occur in response to negative emotional events (eg, insults, losses, disappointments) as well as strong positive emotions (joy, excitement). Some people susceptible to this condition compare it to a sudden emotional outburst that occurs based on strong emotions and physiological reactions.

Why is this happening?

Psychologists and psychiatrists do not fully understand the reasons that cause affective storms. There are theories that point to a relationship between the lack of certain emotional defense mechanisms (for example, avoidance or suppression of negative emotions) and the occurrence of this condition. Emotional storms may also be associated with genetic factors, but there is currently no concrete evidence for this.

How does affective arousal occur?

Affective arousal manifests itself in the following behavioral and mental manifestations:

Expressive expression of emotions: intense outbursts of anger, hatred, fear, love, etc. Violent motor excitement: chaotic body movements, rapid speech, sudden changes in posture, loudness of speech, frequent negative expressions, etc. Emotional disturbances: increased heart rate, increased sweating, rapid breathing, trembling in the body, sudden changes in blood pressure, etc. Increased perception and sensations: increased perception of sounds, smells, taste, tactile sensations, etc. In some cases, people may become aggressive or even dangerous to themselves and others. Such symptoms may be accompanied by a sharp impairment of cognitive functions, such as attention, memory, and spatial orientation.

You can cope with affective storms if you resort to the following methods of self-regulation: - During an attack, imagine green leaves growing in the sun. Close your eyes and focus on this visualization. Imagine the leaves as vibrant green and feel the warm sunshine on your skin. Think about how good and calm you feel. Notice that your body becomes more relaxed, calm and peaceful. You may feel a little tired at the end of this exercise, but this will be a good sign that you have dealt with the emotional stress. - Change clothes to softer, more comfortable and looser ones. This will help you reduce your stress levels and improve your overall well-being. - Use deep breathing techniques. It is believed that