Mood swings

What are mood swings?

Mood swings are sudden, unpredictable shifts in mood that can go from feeling very happy and upbeat in one moment to feeling very sad, irritable, or angry in the next. They involve rapid changes in emotions that often seem to occur without warning.

Some key characteristics of mood swings include:

• Rapid changes between extreme highs and lows emotionally


• Mood shifts happen suddenly and feel unexpected or out-of-the-blue


• The intensity of the moods and swings can vary from mild to more severe or extreme


• They are often unpredictable as to when they might happen

While anyone can experience the occasional mood swing, recurrent issues with significant mood swings may be signs of certain mental health conditions like bipolar disorder or borderline personality disorder. However, less severe or temporary mood swings can also happen in daily life for many people.

Common Causes and Triggers

There are a variety of factors that are thought to play a role in contributing to or triggering mood swings, like:

• Hormonal changes and imbalances - shifts related to puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, or perimenopause for instance


• Stress, especially severe or chronic stress


• Lack of sleep or fatigue


• Drug and alcohol use


• Some medications or medical conditions


• Blood sugar imbalance

Managing mood swings typically involves identifying, managing, and minimizing triggers where possible. Supportive self-care strategies focused on regulating sleep, exercise, nutrition, and stress relief can help as well.

In cases of frequent, strong mood shifts that are very disruptive, seeking help from a mental health professional can also teach skills to manage symptoms, treat underlying conditions, provide support, and improve quality of life. The compassionate doctors at Vitality Hormone Clinic specialize in providing integrative care tailored to each patient's unique needs, with customized treatment plans to help regulate mood and hormones. Their holistic therapies and cutting-edge solutions support lasting mental and emotional wellness - schedule a consultation today!

Natural ways to help cope with mood swings

When mood swings happen, be self-compassionate. Know it's not your fault. Here are some methods to help lessen their intensity:

• Take some deep belly breaths


• Try grounding techniques to calm the nervous system


• Go for a brisk walk to release pent-up energy


• Listen to soothing music


• Call a friend to talk things through


• Write in a journal to process emotions


• Get out in nature more

The above strategies can help provide stability when you feel emotionally off-balance. Over time, being more mindful of lifestyle habits around self-care may also limit frequency of significant mood shifts.

In summary, mood swings involve rapid, intense ups and downs in mood that can vary in severity. Triggers like hormones, stress and lack of sleep contribute to them. Compassionate self-care, lifestyle regulation of triggers, mental health support if needed, and targeted treatment of underlying causes can all help manage difficult mood swings.