We commonly use the term mood swings to refer to emotions when they fluctuate rapidly and intensely. You can perceive mood swings as a type of emotional roller coaster. A person experiences ranging from happiness and feeling generally content to anger to depression within a short period.
At times these mood shifts may be triggered by particular stressful events. Still, on other occasions, they may not be accompanied by any apparent causes. The changes in moods may take place during a day or even a few hours.
Common Causes Of Mood Swings
Typical causes of mood swings are as follows:
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Psychological Conditions
Psychological issues often give rise to mood swings too. Usually, it is the first symptom of the onset of a psychological problem, while at other times, it is a very part of the psychological condition itself. Vitamins, like L-Methylfolate 15, help you deal with depression and other psychological issues. Remember to check in with medical professionals for complications before you take medicine, however.
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Hormonal Changes
One typical cause of mood swings is hormonal activity changes during adolescence, menstruation, and pregnancy. During such periods of significant hormonal changes, brain neurotransmitters that control a person’s mood get affected. For example, during menopause, the body’s estrogen levels diminish, resulting in a mood problem.
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Abusing Substances Or Medicines
Any intake of substances can potentially affect aspects of your body physiology, including moods. A widespread cause of mood swings is the use of drugs and substance abuse, including drinking alcohol. These drugs affect brain chemistry, which disrupts the normal moods of a person. Even medications prescribed by doctors can mess with your hormones, which in turn affects your moods. Such drugs include ones prescribed to control cholesterol and blood pressure, deal with depression, certain antibiotics, and Ritalin.
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Stress
Sometimes severe mood swings take place due to the fight or flight response elicited by certain hormones. If you are intensely anxious or worried, that might release stress hormones that cause brain chemistry changes resulting in mood swings. While mild levels of stress are beneficial, experiencing it severely for prolonged periods alters the way brain neurotransmitters negatively.
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Diet
The food you eat is another common trigger of mood swings. Mood swings occurring as a result of diet is something that affects people of all ages. As per medical studies, high-fat content in foods has a negative impact on the gut microbe, which may give rise to symptoms of depression. The positive effects of Omega-3 fatty acids on people is well known. When there is a lack of it in diets, it might result in people feeling more angry, irritable, and depressed.
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Medical Issues
Sudden mood swings with no apparent reason can be a sign that there is some medical condition lying underneath. Mood swings often accompany diseases like stroke, brain tumors, meningitis, lung conditions, dementia, thyroid, and heart issues. Such mood swings can be treated with appropriate medication.
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Excessive Caffeine And Sugar Intake
While these substances might be common and ubiquitous, they can potentially make your mood far worse. If you consume excessive caffeine, it might make you jittery, anxious, and annoyed. Having sugar does indeed boost your spirits temporarily; the low energy levels that follow it might make you sad and depressed.
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Lack of sleep
If you don’t get adequate sleep, you are far more likely to suffer from mood swings. It might make you irritable, and you will find it far more challenging to deal with daily life stresses.
How To Deal With Mood Swings
You can practice several coping skills that can reduce mood swings by helping you deal with stress better. Everyday stress-busting activities like yoga and meditation help cut down significantly on mood swings and help you be in an overall better mood. The following methods allow you to take care of both your mental health as well as your physical wellbeing:
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Mood Tracking
Suppose you can track what it is precisely that upsets you. In that case, you are better positioned to minimize their effects before they can cause any real harm.
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Get Adequate Sleep
When we are tired, we find it more challenging to deal with challenging emotions. It becomes harder for us to perceive things correctly. Tiredness leads to negative and distorted thoughts, which in turn affects our mood. And there is nothing quite like sleep in getting rid of fatigue.
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Don’t Take Stimulants
When you are dealing with mood swings, you don’t want to intake something that will aggravate the issue. You want something that will help to keep you calm, something that will nourish your body and help to keep it balanced. Avoid stimulants like caffeine, alcohol, and sugar as it will only make your anxiety and mood swings worse.
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Eat At Frequent Intervals
It is not advisable to skip meals in favor of work and other demands on our time. The quality and kind of food also matter in this. Suppose you skip meals all too frequently. Blood sugar levels drop, leading to panicky feelings. This might make you feel unbalanced and cause your mood to deteriorate. Also, remember to have plenty of water.
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Do Yoga And Mindfulness
You need to respond as per the situation you face. Through mindfulness meditation and yoga, you stay aware of stressful moments and overcome them along with mood swings.
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Exercise
Exercise is a part of all health and wellbeing tips, and its benefits extend to minimizing mood swings. Exercising encourages the production of brain chemicals that make you feel relaxed and positive. It releases substances called endorphins that promote a positive frame of mind throughout the activities of the day.
To sum up, to deal with mood swings, it would help to figure out its cause. Once you have accomplished that, only then you can proceed to deal with it. It might be hard work, but it’s still entirely possible. Seek professional help if the ideas mentioned here don’t provide you relief. You need to realize that your health and wellbeing are essential, and these methods will help you better fight stress and keep mood swings at bay. Give priority to yourself, and then you will find that everything else will work out!
