5 Common Causes of Mood Swings

People often use the term “mood swing” to talk about feelings that change quickly and strongly.

People often say that mood swings are like a “roller coaster” of feelings, from happiness and contentment to anger, irritability, and even sadness.

A person might be able to figure out what changed their mood, like a stressful event at work. But mood swings can also happen without an apparent reason.

Why do mood swings happen?

Changes inside us affect how we feel, but it’s not just what’s going on inside that affects how we feel. What’s going on around us also affects how we feel.

Changes in our lives and surroundings, like more stress at home, school, or work, can also affect our feelings.

Everyone goes through mood swings occasionally, but if you have them often or they are so intense that they affect your work or relationships, it could be a sign of a problem that needs to be treated

Things that can make mood swings more likely

Illnesses

Even though the term “mood swings” implies that feelings cause them, dementia orstroke are just a few examples of conditions or injuries that can affect the brain. Other medical conditions, especially neurological conditions, also can cause mood swings, including:

  • Diabetes
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Sleep disorders
  • Thyroid disorders

Developmental Stages

As they learn to control their feelings, toddlers and young children often seem “moody” and may throw tantrums. Even though these changes are usually a normal part of a child’s emotional growth, they can also be a sign of a mental illness, a learning disability, or even a physical illness.

For example, kids and teens with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may have mood swings that make it hard to do well in school and interact with friends.

Even as kids grow, mood swings are a normal part of growing up. When they are in their early teens, hormonal changes are the leading cause of mood swings. These mood changes tend to be at their worst during youth and improve as a young adult.

Allergies

If you have seasonal allergies, the time of year when you tend to feel sick may affect your feelings. Constant coughing, watery eyes, post-nasal drip, and itching can also tire you, especially if they keep you from sleeping.

In the same way, being sick can make you irritable or hard to focus, especially if your allergies give you headaches or a sore throat.

Medications

People’s moods can change when they start or stop taking medicines. Antidepressants and mood stabilisers are supposed to affect a person’s mood, but mood swings can also be a side effect of other medications.

Even though mood changes can signifydepression or another mental health problem, some medicines used to treat these problems can also cause mood changes. Sometimes, these mood changes mean that the drug is not the best choice for treatment or that the person may not have been given the proper diagnosis.

For instance, a person with bipolar disorder might be wrongly diagnosed with depression and given medicine. But some antidepressants may cause someone with bipolar illness to have a manic episode.Similarly, people who take anabolic steroids can have intense mood changes, such as anger.

Hormones

Changes in hormones are normal, and it’s well-known that they can affect mood. For example, the monthly cycle is a cycle of changes in hormones.

For the same reason, people have mood changesduring pregnancy or menopause, when their hormone levels change

But during these times, a person is also more likely to become depressed, so mood swings can also indicate a mental health problem.

Depression

Depression can also cause mood swings, primarily if it is not handled. A person’s mood can change from irritable to sad or angry. People who are depressed may also feel sad, hopeless, and worthless. They may not enjoy their favourite activities. They may have trouble sleeping or sleep too much. They may eat too much or not enough. They may feel exhausted, tired, and worn out. They may have trouble focusing and making decisions. They may have thoughts of death or suicide.

Bipolar Disorder

Mood swings often mark the bipolar disease. People with bipolar have bouts of mania or hypomania, followed by bouts of sadness. Some people have what is called “mixed episodes,” which means they have both sets of symptoms at the same time.

People with bipolar disorder can have mood swings with some or all signs of a depressive, manic, or hypomanic episode. During a manic episode, a person may:

  • Talk a lot or very fast
  • Have too much energy
  • Do risky things
  • Seem “on edge” or irritable
  • Want to sleep less than usual but not feel tired
  • Be more active or goal-oriented than usual (for example, by taking on new projects, working more or harder, and starting new hobbies).

During a period of depression, a person with bipolar disorder may:

  • Feel worthless or hopeless
  • Stop doing things they used to enjoy
  • Seem sad and cry often
  • Have no energy and feel exhausted
  • Can’t focus or concentrate on thoughts or tasks
  • Sleep more than normal or have trouble falling or staying asleep
  • Eat more or less than usual (weight loss or gain)
  • Think about dying, plan or try to kill themselves

If you’re thinking about killing yourself, call a suicide prevention helpline or talk to your therapist immediately.

Some medicines to treat bipolar illness may help people deal with these extreme changes.

Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is another mental illness that can cause mood swings that last for a long time. These mood changes are usually strong and different, lasting from a few hours to a few days. Other signs of BPD are:

  • Impulsive and dangerous behaviour, like unprotected sex, reckless driving, and drug use
  • Extreme responses, like rage or panic, to real or imagined abandonment
  • Feeling empty or restless
  • Hurting themselves, making threats, or trying to kill themselves
  • Vert emotional and intense Relationships with others
  • Anger problems include outbursts, inappropriate anger, and an inability to control rage
  • Symptoms of dissociation, like losing track of time or feeling like you’re “outside” your own body.

Several things can cause mood swings. But the biggest causes of mood swings are what you eat, how much sleep you get, and using drugs. Here’s a closer look at how these possible risk factors can make mood swings more likely.

Diet

If a person doesn’t eat enough or eats food that isn’t good for them nutritionally, their blood sugar levels may go up and down, affecting their mood.

For instance, if your irritable friend seems happier after having breakfast and a cup of coffee, their bad mood might have resulted from caffeine withdrawal or hypoglycaemia, which is low blood sugar.

Sleep

How much and how well a person sleeps can also significantly affect their mood. A person who doesn’t get enough sleep, especially if it’s a long-term problem, may have mood swings and other psychiatric signs.

Your coworker might not be a morning person, but as soon as they wake up, their mood improves, and they feel more ready for the day.

Drug and Alcohol Abuse

People with drug or alcohol use disorders may also be more likely to have big changes in mood, especially when they can’t get or use a substance. They may also have mood swings when trying to quit a drug and going through withdrawal.

Medications that are known to cause mood changes can have nasty effects when they are misused. For example, if a person, like an athlete, takes too many growth drugs, the side effects can be unpredictable and even life-threatening.

How to deal with changes in mood

Mood swings can be challenging, especially if they get in the way of your daily life, like school or work, or your relationships with others.

You can handle less severe or regular mood swings, especially if you know what makes them happen. The first step is to figure out what is happening in your life and surroundings, like stress, not getting enough sleep, or not having your morning coffee.

To better handle and deal with these mood swings, you may want to try different things, such as:

  • Getting regular exercise
  • Making changes to your diet
  • Learning how to deal with stress
  • Changing your nighttime routine to get better sleep
  • Dealing with any drug problems you may have

Seek support

You should talk to a professional about mood changes that happen often and are very strong. You need to figure out the underlying physical or mental health cause before you can treat it effectively.

If a mental illness is causing or worsening mood swings, medications called mood stabilisers, psychotherapy or counselling, and treatments like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) may help.

If you or a loved one is struggling with any psychological or psychiatric issue, click www.hopetrustindia.com to get an instant online appointment with a therapist.