What do mood swings feel like?
Mike, an electrical engineer, seems to go through a range of
several emotions in a single day. Sometimes when he wakes up in
the morning, he feels excited and positive about the day ahead.
He jokes with his family at breakfast and is in a great mood for
most of the morning. On his lunch break, Mike suddenly feels
depressed. He feels tense and aggravated. Sometimes he even
feels aggressive. Later in the day he feels restless and bored
with work. Everything seems unimportant. When he comes home from
work, sometimes he is short and distant from his wife and
children. Later in the evening, his spirits lift and he wants to
spend quality time with his family. Every day seems like a
rollercoaster.
Mike is going through mood swings. Mood swings should not be
confused with Bipolar Disorder or Manic Depression Disorder, in
which extreme moods persist for weeks and months at a time. Mood
swings are extremely common and there are several treatment
options to help regulate a person's mood.
How common are mood swings? Mood disorders affect over 10
million Americans each year. Although most individuals may
experience slight mood changes on a daily, weekly or monthly
basis, these are not to be confused with Bipolar Disorder or
Manic Depression Disorder.
Research indicates that women experience mood swings twice as
often as men. Most women experience mood swings as a result of
pregnancy or post-partum. Mood swings are closely related to
Post Partum Depression.
Treating mood swings has an 80% to 90% success rate for those
who seek help; however, many people will not discuss mood swings
with their doctors. As a result, over sixty percent of
individuals who suffer from this potentially debilitating
disorder remain untreated.
Causes of Mood Swings While it is difficult to pinpoint one
specific cause of mood swings, researchers have proposed several
options, including chemical imbalances and hormonal changes.
Chemical Imbalance Most modern research indicates that mood
disorder may be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. The
experience of feelings such as happiness, stress, fear,
depression or anxiety, occur when the brain releases chemicals
called neurotransmitters. It is the release and re-absorption of
these neurotransmitters that affect how a person feels. People
who experience mood swings might have an imbalance of the
neurotransmitters serotonin, norepenephrine, GABA and dopamine.
There are medicines and therapy techniques available that are
designed to help establish a balance of the release, reuptake
and absorption of these key neurotransmitters.
Hormonal Changes Some women experience hormonal mood swings
during or after pregnancy or with their menstrual cycles.
Teenagers often experience mood swings after the introduction of
sex hormones during puberty. Often, the mood swings are
alleviated once the hormone levels have returned to normal.
How can mood swings affect my life? Mood swings can affect many
aspects of a person's life. Mood swings can be frustrating for
the person experiencing them, and they can be particularly
painful for the family and loved ones around that person. When a
person's mood fluctuates rapidly, friends and family never know
which mood they are going to encounter. For the person
experiencing the mood swings, they often feel extremely
unstable. This uncertainty can cause a person with mood swings
to avoid activities that may trigger a change in mood. It is not
uncommon for a person with mood swings to avoid things that he
or she once enjoyed.
It is important to understand that having mood swings is a part
of human nature; however, if mood swings dominate a person's
life, he or she should seek help.
Mood Swings Frequently Asked Questions
Is it normal for a person to have mood swings? It is completely
normal to experience mood swings. Part of being human is the
wide range of emotions that one can experience. However, when
mood swings dominate a person's life, he or she may feel
overwhelmed and desire more stability. Therapy and medication
can be used to treat severe mood swings.
Are mood swings the same as Bipolar Disorder or Manic
Depression? No. Mood swings are not as severe, nor do they last
as long as the depressed and manic states of Bipolar Disorder or
Manic Depression.
What causes mood swings? While it is difficult to pinpoint one
specific cause of mood swings, researchers have proposed several
options, including chemical imbalances and hormonal changes.
Chemical Imbalance Most modern research indicates that mood
disorder may be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. The
experience of feelings such as happiness, stress, fear,
depression or anxiety, occur when the brain releases chemicals
called neurotransmitters. It is the release and re-absorption of
these neurotransmitters that affect how a person feels. People
who experience mood swings might have an imbalance of the
neurotransmitters serotonin, norepenephrine, GABA and dopamine.
There are medicines and therapy techniques available that are
designed to help establish a balance of the release, reuptake
and absorption of these key neurotransmitters.
Hormonal Changes Some women experience hormonal mood swings
during or after pregnancy or with their menstrual cycles.
Teenagers often experience mood swings after the introduction of
sex hormones during puberty. Often, the mood swings are
alleviated once the hormone levels have returned to normal.
What are my treatment options for mood swings? There are a
variety of treatment options available to cope with mood swings.
Examine the following list and decide which treatment works best
for you.
Talking to Your Doctor about Mood Swings Communicating with your
doctor is an important part in the diagnosis and treatment of
mood swings. By talking to your doctor openly, you allow him or
her to provide you with the best mood swings treatment program
possible. To learn more about talking to your doctor, click here.
Non-prescriptive Alternatives There are many non-prescription
alternatives on the market today. Some of these alternatives
contain supplemental vitamins and minerals, while others contain
herbal alternatives that have been used to naturally medicate
mood swings. Clinical evidence for Valerian, Kava Kava and St.
Johns Wort suggests that these herbal constituents can provide
significant benefit in helping to relieve negative mood and
other symptoms related to anxiety and depression.
Behavioral Therapy Behavioral therapy helps you weaken the
connections between troublesome situations and your habitual
reactions to them. Reactions common to mood swings such as fear,
anxiety, depression, anger, and self-damaging behavior can be
controlled. Behavioral therapy teaches you how to calm your mind
and body, so you can feel better, think more clearly, and make
better decisions.
Cognitive Therapy Cognitive therapy teaches you how certain
thinking patterns are causing your symptoms -- by giving you a
distorted picture of what's going on in your life, and making
you feel anxious, depressed or angry for no apparent reason, or
provoking you into negative actions. Resolving the cognitive
aspect of mood swings can mean improved social interaction, more
confidence, and a more positive outlook on life.
Literary Therapy
Literary therapy incorporates books, articles, and other
research materials into the process of healing. By gathering
information about mood swings, one can acquire in-depth
knowledge about his or her problems. This knowledge provides the
essential tools for controlling and resolving ones issues. There
is an extensive amount of information available from a wide
range of perspectives. Many books can be checked out from a
local library, and most internet information is presented free
of charge.
Talk Therapy
Talk therapy involves the idea of healing through communication.
Talking to friends, family members, or a therapist can help one
to find support for those dealing with mood swings.
Communication comes naturally to humans, and the simple act of
discussing one's problems can be extremely helpful in the
healing process.