Why do I have mood swings and how to control them?

Many people suffer from frequent mood swings. These can be sudden, for no apparent reason or generated by external situations. In any case, they generate intrigue, discomfort and sometimes affect daily life and relationships with close people. In addition to being annoying, they are not always “normal”, it could be a symptom.

In this article we will explain mood changes, so that you have clues to help you know if you need to consult with a professional.

What are mood swings?

When we talk about mood changes we are referring to the rapid and pronounced mood fluctuations; Thus, we can go from an emotional state governed by joy to another governed by anger, sadness or fear. The consequences can be noticed on a personal level, with your partner, at work, with your family or socially.

Although anyone, regardless of age or gender, can suffer from these types of mood swings, Adolescence seems to be a particularly critical stage.

In addition, Women are more vulnerable to these changes, due to fluctuating estrogen levels.. This does not mean that men are saved, since testosterone can also play tricks, making them suddenly change their emotions. In them, mood changes manifest mainly with isolation and apathy, caused by everyday or simple situations.

Why do mood swings occur?

Mood changes can have different origins, which may have to do with biological aspects, but also with psychological ones.

For example, hormonal variations, the menstrual cycle, menopause, pregnancy, some diseases (hypothyroidism, diabetes, anemia), medical procedures (chemotherapies); the consumption of drugs or psychoactive substances, the use of some medications, the deficiency of some vitamins; stress, some psychological disorders and personal or family problems.

Some psychological explanations suggest that differences in temperament and personality traits influence so that some people present greater variations in their mood than others. This would explain why there are people who are calm, stable and others tend to be more changeable, irritable, explosive, fearful or sad.

Thus, those who have negative temperaments or personality traits tend to be the ones who experience more mood swings.

However, while mood swings may be temporary, When they last a long time, are frequent or intense, they are a sign of the possible presence of mental illnesses, such as depression, anxiety, cyclothymia, bipolar affective disorder, borderline personality disorder, among others. In this sense, mental illnesses would be the cause of emotional change.

On the other hand, there are some additional aspects, related to the habits we have, which can cause emotional changes. These include a poor diet, excessive or lack of exercise, and sleep problems, especially insomnia.

Management Strategies for Mood Swings

First of all, Identify the trigger or cause. Recognize whether the mood has changed due to internal or external causes, identifying whether it is an excessive emotion, out of context or is associated with a problem that has a solution.

An exercise you can do is fill out a mood change log, in order to identify what may be affecting you.

Another important aspect is try to be aware of emotions. To do this, one option is to practice being in the present (mindfulness), self-observing emotions and changes, without trying to confront them.

It doesn’t mean you should focus only on emotions; You have to observe them and continue with the activities, refocusing your attention on what is really important at that moment.

Emotional regulation strategies, such as diaphragmatic breathing and meditation exercises, can be of great help. In addition, to express what you feel. To do this, find a support network or someone to express yourself openly with.

Also It is advisable to reduce stress levels and do pleasant activitieseat healthy, exercise and sleep well.

However, If it is not just a symptom or a temporary condition, seek help from a psychologist or psychiatrist. This will make it easier for you to identify the causes of your mood changes and negative patterns to obtain strategies to solve the problem.

It is important to highlight the impossibility of always being in a good mood, since emotions, both positive and negative, are part of our emotional life. It is normal that some situations affect us, that from time to time we are not happy, and also sad or angry, The problem appears when these fluctuations begin to seriously affect our quality of life.

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