What is mood swings?
Mood swings refer to sudden, unexpected shifts in mood that can go from feeling positive and upbeat in one moment to feeling extremely irritable, sad, or anxious in the next. They tend to be relatively short-lived, though the intensity and frequency of mood swings can vary greatly from person to person.
Some key things to know about mood swings:
- They involve intense emotions that can often feel out of proportion to the situation at hand. For example, you might start crying uncontrollably over a minor inconvenience.
- They can involve both positive and negative mood states. For example, you could switch from feeling extremely happy and energetic to feeling very sad and withdrawn.
- They can happen for no clear reason, though common triggers include stress, hormonal fluctuations, sleep issues, and major life events.
- Almost everyone experiences some mood variability, but mood swings are only considered problematic if they:
- Happen very frequently (multiple times a day)
- Are very intense and feels out of control
- Severely interfere with work, relationships, or daily life
What causes mood swings?
There are a few potential causes of troublesome mood swings, including:
- Hormonal changes and imbalances: Shifts in reproductive hormones, thyroid hormones, and stress hormones can destabilize mood. Things like PMS, perimenopause, and thyroid disorders are common culprits. Getting your hormone levels tested can help identify issues.
- Medications: Antidepressants, steroids, and some other medications can trigger mood swings as a side effect.
- Bipolar disorder: This condition causes alternating episodes of depressed and manic or hypomanic mood states. Mood swings occur between these poles.
If frequent, intense mood swings are interfering with your life, seeing a doctor or mental health professional can help identify any underlying causes and the most helpful treatments, whether therapy, lifestyle changes, or medication.
At Balanced Hormone Clinic, we specialize in helping those with hormone-driven mood issues find relief. Our team includes endocrinologists, psychiatrists, and nutritionists to ensure comprehensive care. () to have your hormone levels fully tested and get customized treatment recommendations.
How to manage mood swings
Some tips that may help lessen mood swings:
- Track your moods so you can identify any patterns related to your menstrual cycle, stress, sleep, diet, etc. This can clue you into potential triggers.
- Stick to a regular sleep routine and aim for 7-9 hours per night. Lack of sleep can exacerbate mood issues.
- Exercise regularly as this can stabilize mood in addition to improving health.
- Reduce stress through relaxation techniques (yoga, meditation, deep breathing), setting priorities, and saying no to nonessential tasks.
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet and stay well hydrated. Avoid sugar, refined carbs, and unhealthy fats that can destabilize blood sugar and mood.
Making targeted lifestyle changes with support from a doctor or mental health therapist can go a long way in taming troublesome mood swings! Our team at Balanced Hormone Clinic also provides customized naturopathic hormone balancing and nutritional support programs that can help stabilize mood alongside other symptoms. ()
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