Mood Changes
Mood changes refer to shifts or fluctuations in a person's emotional state. Moods can vary greatly in both intensity and duration. It's normal for people to experience occasional mood changes in response to life events or daily stressors. However, some individuals experience more extreme, prolonged, or frequent mood disturbances that may signal an underlying mental health condition.
Common Causes of Mood Changes
- Major life events: Both positive and negative life changes can trigger shifts in mood - for example, getting married, having a baby, losing a job, death of a loved one, etc. These impactful events can cause our emotions to fluctuate more than usual.
- Stress: Accumulated daily stress from work, relationships, finances, etc. can wear people down over time and affect mood regulation. High stress deprives the brain of "feel good" chemicals it needs to maintain an even keel.
- Hormone changes: Fluctuating reproductive hormones in women can trigger mood changes at different times of the menstrual cycle. Menopause is another period where women may experience mood swings due to hormone changes.
- Medications: Certain prescription drugs can produce side effects like mood disturbances as they interact with brain chemicals.
- Physical factors: Lack of quality sleep, poor diet, vitamin deficiencies, chronic illness, inflammation, and pain can all contribute to mood instability. Our minds and bodies are closely intertwined.
- Mental health conditions: People with clinical depression, seasonal affective disorder (SAD), bipolar disorder, and other conditions often struggle with mood dysregulation as a main symptom.
When Do Mood Changes Become Concerning?
Mood changes are normal to a degree. But if you find your moods are extremely intense, enduring for long periods, and interfering with your regular functioning, it may be time to check in with a doctor or mental health professional. They can help determine if an underlying physical or mental health issue needs to be addressed. Don't hesitate to reach out for help if you feel your mood issues are taking over your life.
- Try to pinpoint potential triggers.
- Communicate with loved ones for support.
- Make self-care a priority every day.
- Consider keeping a mood journal.
- Explore counseling or a mental health evaluation.
- Discuss medication options with your doctor.
With some extra care and attention, you can better understand and get through periods of feeling emotionally off-kilter. There's no need to tough it out alone. Support and solutions do exist at places like Rejuvenate Clinic.