Loss of control
Loss of control is a state in which a person experiences limited influence over their own emotions, impulses, behavior or situation.
Definition
Loss of control may be a subjective feeling or a real decrease in the ability to regulate. It may appear with severe stress, panic, anger, overload, addiction, fatigue or illness. It doesn't always mean a complete lack of agency - often the first step is to regain a small element of influence.
Key ideas
- Decrease in regulation
- Overload
- Reclaiming low impact
Practice and life
In a moment of chaos, choose one controllable thing: breathing, body position, moving away from the stimulus, contacting the person, writing down the next step.
Common misconceptions
It is a mistake to shame yourself for losing control. It is also a mistake to ignore recurring episodes that may require specialist help.
> Loss of control may be a signal that the system has been operating without adjustment for too long.
> — Guru Element
Questions for self-reflection
- What have I really lost control over?
- What's the smallest item I can recover?
- Is this a one-off or a pattern?