inappropriate affect

[aura]

Does anyone else deal with inappropriate affect? I've been experiencing random tearfulness and elation that's totally unrelated to what's going on. Any ideas on how to deal with this?

[saintalto]

I still struggle with this in a smaller way even though I’m mostly well. I have trouble connecting the right reaction to the appropriate moment. So someone will be telling me how they lost their cat and I’ll smile and nod instead of showing a sympathetic response. Or someone will say something serious and not funny at all and I’ll laugh at it like they told me a joke. I can usually catch myself quickly and change my reaction to something more fitting or stop the bad reaction before it goes on for too long, but it does make for awkward social interaction at times. The best you can do I guess is just try to catch yourself when you’re at it and minimize the damage.  

[DogMan]

Elation sounds more like a mood swing than inappropriate affect?

 

Tearfulness might be too, if it is a feeling and not a jumbled outward expression of feeling happy etc.

[aura]

@DogMan The tearfulness was definitely out of nowhere. I wonder... what is the difference between being labile and having inappropriate affect?

[DogMan]

Just now, aura said:

@DogMan The tearfulness was definitely out of nowhere. I wonder... what is the difference between being labile and having inappropriate affect?

I meant that if you felt sad. It is perfectly appropriate affect. And more likely related to a mood disorder. 

 

I'm not familiar with the term labile.

[aura]

Just now, DogMan said:

I meant that if you felt sad. It is perfectly appropriate affect. And more likely related to a mood disorder. 

 

I'm not familiar with the term labile.

I wasn't sad, just randomly tearful with no emotion behind it. By labile I just mean mood all over the place. 

[DogMan]

Just now, aura said:

I wasn't sad, just randomly tearful with no emotion behind it. By labile I just mean mood all over the place. 

Oh. Then labile is nothing like it. 

 

Have you consulted your care team on this? Inappropriate affect can have serious professional repercussions, it has with me.

Any recent med tweaks? If so, you'll likely come good in a few weeks with this 

[notloki]

My generalist says I have a slightly flattened affect, my psychiatrist says I am doing very well for being on so many meds that potentially have an effect on affect. Sometimes it bothers me, usually in social situations. I get random tearfulness sometimes which again is awkward in social situations.