Introduction: A mood swing is an intense fluctuation of emotion and rapid change in person’s emotional state. [1 ]Mood might alter due to many reasons: adjustments in a diet, stress, weather, use of substance, issues in sleep schedule, trauma and so on. It is highly substantial to pay attention to patterns in behavior since they can be the indication of issues related to our mental health and our bodies. In order to understand the fundamental reason of mood swings, it is important to seek out professional help. Mood swings can make anyone its victim irrespective of gender.[2] Hormonal shifts can lead to prominent changes in mood and females tend to be more prone to symptoms of hormonal changes than males, expressly during menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause.
What is the reason behind "Mood Swings"? [3] According to the Botanical Practitioner's Perspective, mood swings are prevalent among adolescent girls and may be exclusively common in the week or days prior to the inception of menstruation, not dissimilarly to PMS, or they may occur more frequently and unpredictably than monthly or cyclically. Ofttimes, girls start displaying mood swings as early as age 11, which many parents assume to simply be a behavioral problem rather than recognizing the beginning of hormonally mediated mood changes. Another reasons are principally related to signs of these mental health disorders. Bipolar disorder: [4]Bipolar disorder is characterised by sublime mood swings that include emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression). When a person becomes depressed they may feel hopeless and lose interest in most activities. However, when mood shifts to mania or hypomania (less extreme than mania), person might feel euphoric, full of energy or unusually irritable. These mood swings can affect sleep, energy, activity, judgment, behavior and the ability to think clearly. [5]According to several studies, a significant proportion of the approximately 3.4 million children and adolescents with depression in the United States may actually be experiencing the early onset of adolescent bipolar disorder, but have not yet experienced the manic phase of the illness. Borderline Personality Disorder: A characteristic of this mental illness is sudden, intense shifts in mood - such as anxious to angry, or depressed to anxious - usually without the extreme highs seen in bipolar disorder. [6]They are also more likely than average to attempt or commit suicide. Sometimes, without intending to commit suicide, they harm themselves (for example, cutting or burning) as a form of self-punishment or to fight an empty feeling. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): [7] is a mental health condition that affects approximately 8.4% of children and 2.5% of adults. People with ADHD may have unstable moods. They may seem anxious or excited one moment, then feel angry or restless the next. [8] Figure 2 Symptoms that differentiate BD from BD with comorbid ADHD:
How to cope with Mood Swings?
Listening to upbeat music can influence your mood in a good way.
Regular workouts -- even a daily walk -- can help take the edge off depression and anxiety, because they'll trigger your body to make feel-good endorphins.
Cognitive behavioral therapy-- A highly effective psychotherapy called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on how our thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes can affect our feelings and behavior. Traditional CBT treatment usually requires weekly 30- to 60-minute sessions over 12 to 20 weeks.
[9] Dialectical behavior therapy can help people with borderline personality disorder learn how to better control their anger and impulses and manage their dramatic mood shifts.
Concluding Remarks Mood swings can be a symptom of a mental illness. Or they could be a clue that something else is happening in your body. It is always important to seek out professional help. Because mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood and most importantly, it is essential for leading happy life!
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