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Mood Changes
Mood changes refer to shifts or fluctuations in a person's emotional state over time. Our moods can vary greatly day-to-day or even hour-by-hour due to internal and external factors.
Some key points about mood changes:
- Moods are usually described as feeling happy, sad, irritated, enthusiastic, etc. They are more transient emotions compared to someone's general temperament.
- There are biological factors that impact mood - hormones, brain chemistry, etc. For example, serotonin plays a key role in regulating mood.
- Situational factors also greatly affect mood - stress at work, not getting enough sleep, eating unhealthy foods, and many other lifestyle issues.
- Certain medications, drugs, and medical conditions can trigger mood swings as a side effect.
- For some people, dramatic mood shifts may be linked to mental health conditions like depression, bipolar disorder, or borderline personality disorder. This underscores the importance of managing mood changes.
Causes of Mood Changes
There are a variety of internal and external factors, including:
- Hormone changes - menstruation, pregnancy, perimenopause, etc.
- Sleep habits - lack of quality sleep often worsens mood.
- Diet and nutrition - blood sugar crashes, vitamin/mineral deficiencies.
- Stressful events - arguments, work stress, financial problems.
- Medical conditions - chronic pain, thyroid disorders, etc.
- Medications - antidepressants, steroids, blood pressure meds.
- Genetics and brain chemistry - family history of mental illness.
- Substance abuse - alcohol, recreational drugs.
Managing Mood Changes
- Foster healthy habits around sleep, diet, exercise.
- Practice stress management techniques.
- Address any underlying medical issues.
- Go to therapy to cope with mood swings.
- Communicate openly with friends and family.
- Keep a mood journal to identify triggers.
- Take medications if prescribed by a healthcare professional.
By better understanding the various factors that influence our moods, both internally and externally, we can be more aware of changes as they occur. Taking active steps to create stability in key areas like sleep, relationships, work, and health can help smooth out more extreme highs and lows. Getting professional support from Restore Clinic is also key if mood changes feel unmanageable.