What is Mood Changes?
Mood changes refer to shifts or fluctuations in a person's emotional state. Moods are usually described as feelings or states that are temporary in nature and can change based on internal or external circumstances. Some common causes of mood changes include:
- Hormonal changes - Fluctuations in hormones like estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and cortisol can affect moods. For example, many women experience mood changes before or during their menstrual periods due to hormonal shifts. Menopausal women also commonly deal with mood swings due to declining estrogen levels.
- Stress - Increased responsibilities, financial problems, conflicts in relationships, lack of sleep, illness, or traumatic events can all trigger mood changes due to increased stress levels.
- Diet - What we eat and drink impacts brain chemistry and can influence our moods. For instance, dramatic drops in blood sugar from skipping meals can make someone feel irritated or moody. Dehydration, malnutrition, excess caffeine, or alcohol use also affect mood.
- Medications - Certain prescription drugs, supplements, and recreational drugs can provoke mood swings as a side effect. Always speak to your doctor if new medications seem to impact your mood.
- Mental health conditions - Disorders like depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, PTSD, and schizophrenia involve significant mood disturbances as a core symptom. Seeking professional help for an evaluation is recommended.
- Circadian rhythms - Our natural sleep/wake cycles can impact mood; insomnia or jet lag often precede crankiness and mood changes.
- Seasonal changes - Some people experience mood changes along with the shifting seasons, especially symptoms of sadness during the winter months when sunshine exposure decreases.
Mood changes are complex, but help is available! Seeking support from a mental health provider or doctor can help identify factors influencing your moods. Lifestyle changes to improve diet, exercise, sleep habits, and stress levels are often recommended as well. For hormonal mood swings, the experts at Restore Wellness Center provide safe bioidentical hormone therapy tailored to your unique needs. Let them design a personalized plan to help stabilize your moods through balanced hormone levels. You'll feel more like yourself in no time!
Some key signs that your mood changes may require attention include:
- Persistent sadness, anxiety, irritability, or apathy
- Severe mood swings that feel uncontrollable
- Difficulty carrying out daily routines
- Withdrawing from family/friends
- Changes in sleep, appetite, energy levels
- Inability to concentrate
- Feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness
Don't hesitate to seek help if mood changes are impacting your quality of life. With compassionate support, lifestyle adjustments, therapy, and medication if needed, most people can get relief from mood disturbances. Have hope that you don't have to keep living with debilitating mood swings or depression. There are solutions available to regain emotional stability and joy.