If you suffer from PBA, you are not alone — pseudobulbar affect impacts more than 1 million people in the United States diagnosed with neurologic diseases.

Although PBA occurs secondary to neurologic diseases and brain injuries, it is a distinct neurologic disorder, which can be diagnosed and treated separately from an underlying neurologic disease or injury.

Experiencing unpredictable involuntary emotional displays caused by PBA can cause anxiety and embarrassment, particularly in public settings. For some, these episodes can be so disruptive that those affected avoid social situations, resulting in isolation.