The five fundamental afflictions—ignorance, ego, attachment, aversion, and fear—that underlie dysregulation patterns and require conscious transformation.
Patanjali identifies five kleshas, or afflictions, that cloud judgment and perpetuate suffering: avidya (ignorance of true nature), asmita (ego-clinging), raga (attachment/craving), dvesha (aversion/rejection), and abhinivesha (fear of loss). These operate as the deep psychological roots of emotional dysregulation. Avidya manifests as misunderstanding emotions as fixed identity rather than temporary states. Asmita appears as shame spirals where dysregulation becomes "proof" of inadequacy. Raga drives desperate clinging to emotional relief, intensifying dysregulation when relief doesn't arrive. Dvesha fuels aggressive rejection of emotional pain, creating the rigid control that exhausts nervous systems. Abhinivesha underlies catastrophic thinking about dysregulation consequences. DBT addresses behavioral patterns; understanding kleshas accesses deeper motivational roots. When DBT's emotion regulation skills fail, it's often because a klesha remains unaddressed: someone clings to the false belief that they shouldn't feel sad (avidya), shame-spirals about dysregulation (asmita), or resists normal emotional experience (dvesha). By recognizing which klesha dominates your dysregulation pattern, practitioners can target their practice more precisely and develop wisdom alongside behavioral skill.
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