3. Emotional Lability: The Emotional Roller Coaster
Emotional lability, also known as pseudobulbar affect, is a prevalent symptom among those with pseudobulbar palsy. This symptom is characterized by sudden, uncontrollable outbursts of laughter or crying that seem inappropriate to the situation or disproportionate to the person’s actual feelings. It’s as if the person is on an emotional roller coaster that they can’t control, and it can be quite distressing.
Emotional lability in pseudobulbar palsy arises from a disconnection between the frontal lobes of the brain, which control emotions, and the areas of the brain that produce emotional expressions. This results in a misalignment between the person’s feelings and their outward display of emotions. The person might not feel particularly sad or happy, but they find themselves crying or laughing uncontrollably.
The sudden, uncontrollable emotional outbursts that characterize emotional lability can be extremely distressing for the person experiencing them and confusing for those around them. These unexpected emotional displays can lead to embarrassment, social avoidance, and isolation. The constant fear of an emotional outburst can also heighten anxiety levels, affecting the person’s overall quality of life.
Effective management of emotional lability often involves medication to help regulate emotional responses. Certain antidepressants have been found effective in controlling these emotional outbursts. Counseling and behavioral strategies can also be beneficial in helping the person and their family understand and cope with this symptom. (3)
