Emotional Swings: From Intensity to Emptiness
Thu Feb 05 2026
Do your emotions change so quickly that you no longer trust them? Does closeness feel exciting one moment and suffocating the next?
In this episode, I explore emotional swings — a pattern where strong feelings arise quickly and then disappear just as fast, leaving confusion and self doubt behind.
You’ll learn why intense emotions can suddenly turn into flatness or indifference, why distance can feel clearer than closeness, and why irritation or “the ick” often shows up right after moments of intimacy.
I also explain how longing from afar can feel safer than real connection, and why emotional inconsistency is often your nervous system’s way of maintaining safety.
If you’ve ever wondered whether something is wrong with you because your feelings feel unreliable, this episode will help you understand what’s really happening — and why these patterns make sense once you understand the nervous system behind them.
Nothing is wrong with you. Your system learned how to stay safe — not how to stay close. And those are not the same thing.
00:00 Introduction
02:10 When emotions appear unmanageable
04:26 Emotional Swing Pattern
20:43 The conflict between desire and safety
23:10 How create more emotional stability
Friedemann Schaub, MD, PhD, is the award-winning author of The Fear + Anxiety Solution. Dr. Schaub has helped thousands of people with his Personal Breakthrough and Empowerment program to overcome their fear and anxiety by addressing the deeper, subconscious root causes of these emotional challenges.
Learn more at: https://DrFriedemann.com
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com//DrFriedemann
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LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drfriedemannschaub/
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Do your emotions change so quickly that you no longer trust them? Does closeness feel exciting one moment and suffocating the next? In this episode, I explore emotional swings — a pattern where strong feelings arise quickly and then disappear just as fast, leaving confusion and self doubt behind. You’ll learn why intense emotions can suddenly turn into flatness or indifference, why distance can feel clearer than closeness, and why irritation or “the ick” often shows up right after moments of intimacy. I also explain how longing from afar can feel safer than real connection, and why emotional inconsistency is often your nervous system’s way of maintaining safety. If you’ve ever wondered whether something is wrong with you because your feelings feel unreliable, this episode will help you understand what’s really happening — and why these patterns make sense once you understand the nervous system behind them. Nothing is wrong with you. Your system learned how to stay safe — not how to stay close. And those are not the same thing. 00:00 Introduction 02:10 When emotions appear unmanageable 04:26 Emotional Swing Pattern 20:43 The conflict between desire and safety 23:10 How create more emotional stability Friedemann Schaub, MD, PhD, is the award-winning author of The Fear + Anxiety Solution. Dr. Schaub has helped thousands of people with his Personal Breakthrough and Empowerment program to overcome their fear and anxiety by addressing the deeper, subconscious root causes of these emotional challenges. Learn more at: https://DrFriedemann.com FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com//DrFriedemann INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/dr.friedemannschaub PINTEREST: https://www.pinterest.com/drfriedemann TWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/DrFriedemannS LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drfriedemannschaub/