Mood swings are common emotional shifts that can occur daily or weekly. They involve feelings of irritability, anxiety, sadness, or euphoria. Mood swings are often caused by hormonal changes, particularly in women. Other causes include stress, sleep problems, medical conditions, and medications.
What causes mood swings?
The most common causes of mood swings include:
- Hormonal fluctuations - Changes in estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone often trigger mood swings during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause.
- Stress - High stress levels can disrupt mood-regulating neurotransmitters like serotonin. This leads to increased irritability and anxiety.
- Lack of sleep - Insufficient sleep often manifests as emotional volatility. Most adults need 7-9 hours per night.
- Medical conditions - Thyroid disorders, dementia, and chronic pain can provoke mood swings.
- Medications - Drugs like antidepressants, steroids, and painkillers may cause mood instability as side effects.
- Substance abuse - Withdrawal from alcohol, nicotine, and illicit drugs frequently induces mood swings.
- Mental health disorders - Conditions like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and borderline personality disorder involve pronounced mood swings.
What are the symptoms of mood swings?
Mood swings can vary in duration and severity. Common symptoms include:
- Sudden feelings of sadness, tearfulness, or hopelessness
- Increased irritability, frustration, anger, and rage
- Restlessness, anxiety, panic attacks, and nervousness
- Rapid shifts between feeling euphoric and depressed
- Difficulty concentrating and making decisions
- Changes in sleep and appetite
- Low energy and constant fatigue
- Feeling overwhelmed for no reason
- Thoughts of self-harm or suicide
When to see a doctor
See your doctor if mood swings:
- Disrupt work, school, or relationships
- Last more than a week
- Involve suicidal thoughts
- Happen alongside other symptoms like hallucinations
How are mood swings treated?
Treatment depends on the underlying cause but may include:
- Hormone therapy - Birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy can stabilize hormones.
- Stress management - Counseling, meditation, exercise, social support, and organization skills can reduce stress.
- Improved sleep hygiene - Having a nightly routine and limiting blue light exposure before bed can improve sleep.
- Therapy - Cognitive behavioral therapy helps manage negative thought patterns.
- Medications - Antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and lithium can regulate neurotransmitters.
Lifestyle changes like regular exercise, a healthy diet, and limiting alcohol intake may also minimize mood swings. For persistent or worsening symptoms, see a doctor or psychiatrist. They can identify any underlying illnesses and provide targeted treatment.
At Vitality Hormone Clinic, we offer comprehensive hormone testing and individualized bioidentical hormone therapy to help regulate estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and other hormones. Our experienced clinicians provide caring support and effective treatments to reduce mood swings and enhance quality of life. Contact us today to learn more or schedule a consultation.