It is normal and expected for many people to think of bipolar disorder when it comes to mood swings. While it is true that the mood of people with this condition is high and low, it is not the only thing that causes them.
This article highlights some causes of our mood swings.
Stress
Stressful situations can occur at work, at home, or elsewhere. Chronic stress can cause many health problems that can make one sad, angry or bitter. Stress can also make person lose sleep, which can affect his or her mood.
Relaxation and exercise are great ways to relieve stress.
Certain drugs
Mood swings can be side effects of certain drugs we take. If a doctor prescribes any drug, observe for changes for the first few weeks, because there may be a link between your mood and the drug. Mood swings are a common side effect of high-dose steroids. They make one become angry more easily than usual.
Hormones
Engaging in hormonal therapy is most common amongst women who have hormonal imbalances. Taking hormone therapy for different things, makes a person feel upset or angry for no reason. Whenever the body produces more or less hormones than usual, our mood may rise or fall. The same thing can happen when the body produces surges of hormones during puberty.
Pregnancy
A pregnant woman makes more hormones than usual to help the body grow and nourish the baby. These surges can affect her mood: she may cry more or feel empty inside. She might swing suddenly from happy to sad, then back again.
Pregnancy can also cause some women to be extremely depressed.
Dementia
Dementia can damage the brain, which can affect a person’s memory and personality over time. People with dementia can have sudden mood swings: they may be observed to be calm one minute and then get angry the next. They may feel frustrated because they forget things. Some people with dementia become depressed. Others tend to become antisocial, even if they were very sociable and jovial before.
Mood swings are normal. Everyone experiences them at one point in time. It is crucial to understand that even though mood swings may not affect your health immediately, they may impact the relationship you have with others. Sometimes, a conscious check on your mood swings may help to control them. Moreover, watching what you eat and the medicines you take may also play a key role in keeping them at bay.
In the situation where you feel like these mood swings are not controllable and getting out of hand, do not hesitate to seek professional help.
