Compass is still being developed and is effectively in beta. Some content and features may be incomplete, change, or not work as expected.

Content is anchored to trusted sources where available, but Compass has not yet been clinically reviewed. It provides general information rather than medical advice.

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Symptoms and clinical language

Pseudobulbar affect

Laughing or crying that comes on suddenly and does not match how you actually feel.

What it means

The pathway that normally keeps the outward expression of emotion in step with the feeling is affected. Laughter or tears then arrive quickly, last briefly, and can feel unconnected to the moment. It is a physical symptom rather than a mood problem.

Why you might hear it

  • Teams ask about it because people often assume it is depression and do not raise it.
  • Explaining it to family and colleagues often takes much of the distress out of it.

What it is not

Not depression, and not a loss of emotional control as a personality change. The feeling underneath is usually ordinary.

People who may help

Where Compass goes into this

About this explanation

These are plain explanations of words you may come across, not advice about your own situation. Where a word matters to a decision, the question pages go into it properly, and your own team is the place to take it.