Mood swings: normal or pathological? Mood swings in women.

Mood swings: what is the reason for frequent and sudden mood swings and what to do about it?

There was just a crazy explosion of joy, I wanted to jump and clap my hands, and then... a wave of unreasonable sadness suddenly hits me. Why?

It's no secret that each of us is subject to mood swings. To one degree or another, of course.

And no one is immune from such periods when you don’t want to do anything (do, see, hear). This is how our psyche works.

We all feel sad and grieve when we experience a loss or a major setback. This is quite understandable. But sometimes people can experience such a change in mood for no apparent reason, and remain in this state for quite a long time. At the same time, during periods of sadness, a person loses interest in life, becomes tired and irritable. Such groundless “emotional swings” can negatively affect work, relationships with loved ones, and simply ruin life.

It is precisely this change of mood – abrupt and without external visible reasons – that we will talk about in this article.

Mood, in essence, is our psychological attitude towards the surrounding reality. It can be different: positive, negative or neutral.

Mood changes are a normal function of the nervous system. Thanks to it, we adapt to changing environmental conditions. But sometimes these “swings” are so frequent and sharp that they interfere with a normal productive life. In this case, it’s worth figuring out: what, in fact, is happening?

Let's try to classify the factors of changes in psychological mood. So,

Possible causes of sudden mood swings:

1. Temperament type. Choleric people are most prone to frequent mood swings in stressful situations.

2. Diet. Scientists have long noticed that some types of foods have a stimulating effect on the body, while others, on the contrary, have a calming effect. Therefore, it is worth carefully reviewing your diet.

3. Various addictions: alcoholism, gambling, drug addiction. In a state of passion, it is very difficult for a person to control changes in his state.

4. Physiological reasons. For example, previous traumatic brain injuries, or certain types of mental illness. In such cases, the help of a doctor is necessary. Most likely, he will prescribe complex therapy, including both drug treatment and psychocorrection.

5. Chronic fatigue, constant stress. Under stressful conditions, the body simply does not have enough strength for a calm, productive life. Irritation accumulates, and now any little thing becomes capable of unsettling us.

6. In women, there are hormonal changes in the body. Mood changes can be observed especially clearly during pregnancy.

7. Off-season. This includes the characteristic autumn and spring blues, feelings of discomfort during these periods, and, as a result, emotional swings. The physiological reason for seasonal mood changes is a change in the functioning of the hypothalamus, which is responsible for the production of the so-called “happiness hormones”.

8. Personal problems. Of course, everyone has them. But some people tend to make decisions quickly, while others have doubts. This provokes a change in mood.

9. Hidden depression. In cases where a person experiences fatigue, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and mood swings for a long time, we can talk about depression. And since it belongs to the category of diseases, the help of doctors and psychotherapists is necessary.

10. Lack of sleep. The body needs proper rest. Healthy sleep can improve both immunity and mood.

11. Lack of sunlight. The reason is the same as in the off-season - insufficient production of the “happiness hormone” melatonin. Only such blues can happen not only during transition periods between seasons, but even in summer in cloudy weather.

12. Lack of oxygen. In winter, in rarely ventilated rooms, there is often not enough fresh air, which provokes drowsiness and bad mood.

Psychologists also distinguish a certain type of character - cyclothymic. The very name of this type speaks of cyclicality. Such people naturally have sudden mood swings. What else is different about cyclothymics and how to interact with them?

So, we said earlier that a cyclothymic is a person whose mood changes too often.

Such people show instability in behavior and emotions. A sharp rise in mood is replaced by an equally sharp decline. At the same time, the cyclicity of changes can be different - throughout the day, sometimes a week.

Cyclothymics find it very difficult to control themselves. If during the upswing they are able to literally “move mountains,” then during the downturn they have difficulty forcing themselves to do something and can explode when faced with the slightest obstacle.

Such sensitivity indicates that the person is unable to tolerate frustration, an emotional state that occurs when a situation gets out of control.

Psychologists note that cyclothymia often contributes to a situation of childhood frustration - when the mother is either very close to the child or pushes him away. So, since childhood, a small person perceives everything in polar terms - either great joy or terrible grief.

Parental prohibitions on the expression of sadness and grief can also “help” cyclothymia. Growing up, a person continues to feel guilty and experience a depressed mood.

But cyclothymics, like representatives of all other character types, have not only “minuses”, but also a large number of “pluses”. These people are very multifaceted, have a rich inner world, nature has endowed them very generously.

There are a lot of creative personalities among cyclothymics. For example, Pushkin had this type of character. Cyclothymics tend to fully experience all the ups and downs, and this makes them inimitable, and their creativity unforgettable.

Cyclothymics are sociable, easily adapt to the world around them, and are prone to compliance and compromise. Mood is everything to them; thinking is not a priority. In the good mood phase, they are unusually efficient, resourceful, and courageous. Cyclothymics know how to communicate with people, always have a lot of ideas, but at the same time they are prone to superficiality, inconstancy, and overestimation of their capabilities.

What should cyclothymics do to smooth out mood swings?

So, if you have discovered that you have a cyclothymic character, listen to the recommendations of psychologists:

1. Step back. When you feel inexplicably sad or irritated, try to look at the situation as if from the outside. What caused it? How significant is it to you?

2. Find a safe outlet for your emotions. Use yoga, breathing practices, martial arts, qigong. They can help you harmonize your soul and body, find inner balance and remain calm.

3. Try to accept yourself. The same as you are now. Even in not the best mood and shape. And it is not at all necessary to strictly comply with some strict standards of success. By accepting yourself “unvarnished,” you will gain peace of mind and new strength.

To minimize constant emotional swings, try using simple rules:

1. Take frequent walks in nature, in the fresh air. Such walks will give you strength and energy, and will also provide your body with enough oxygen and sunlight.

2. When you get out of bed in the morning, open the curtains and window in the bedroom. Again, bright light and fresh air will allow your body to wake up faster and gain strength for the new day.

3. In the morning, take a contrast shower: alternate warm and cool water. This procedure will help you cheer up. But don’t take the situation to fanaticism: the water temperature should be comfortable for you. You should not scald yourself with boiling water or freeze yourself with ice water. Such exercises require a very long preparation, and solve completely different problems.

4. If possible, visit a bathhouse or sauna. It is better to do this periodically, for example, once a week. This way you will get not only good health, but also a stable emotional background.

5. Don't forget about physical activity. Choose a suitable complex for morning exercises, go to the gym, to the pool, or discover some other sport. The main thing is that it is pleasant and healthy for your body.

6. Watch your diet. Provide your body with enough vitamins, especially in the off-season, when you are especially vulnerable. Remember about a good breakfast - it will take care of your performance for the whole day.

7. If your food lacks vitamins, take them additionally in special complexes, along with the necessary minerals.

8. Try not to overload yourself. Constant stress and fatigue will do their dirty work - they will force you to periodically (and often unexpectedly) slide into negativity. Try to calm down in time and tune in to the good.

9. Learn relaxation techniques. Such philosophical teachings as yoga, karate-do, etc. are especially rich in them. Choose something of your own.

10. Don't suppress your feelings. Talk about them with people you trust and who are close to you. This will help avoid sudden outbursts of accumulated emotions.

11. Invent a new hobby or remember an old one. This will distract you from sad thoughts and give you new joyful emotions.

12. Learn to see in crisis situations not only a hopeless problem, but also new opportunities, unexpected turns that can lead to something good.

13. Agree that we cannot change all situations in life. Unfortunately or fortunately, it’s not for us to judge. We must learn to accept such situations.

14. Strengthen your close relationships. Maintaining connections with family and friends will have a positive impact on your ability to cope with stress and problems.

15. Help other people without waiting for their request. In other words, do good deeds. By supporting those who have a harder time than you, you yourself will be able to cope with difficulties much easier and will feel more confident.

16. Cultivate optimism and hope. Remember that there is light at the end of even the longest tunnel.

17. Recall your previous positive problem-solving experiences to help develop confidence in your abilities.

18. You can use body-oriented practices that release emotions. For example, allow yourself to scream to your heart’s content, dance, shake your whole body to the point of exhaustion. After a half-hour “discharge,” allow yourself to fall, lie down and listen to the emptiness inside you. Achieve peace and relaxation. Psychotherapists say that in this way you can get rid of accumulated blocked energy.

And remember, developing emotional stability is a slow process and requires some effort on your part. But it’s worth it, because a stable emotional background will help you find a way out of any situation.

“Enjoy life and be happy!”
Anna Kutyavina for the website website

Cyclothymia: other mood swings for no reason

Every person, having come into contact with a tragic loss or experiencing a major failure, becomes upset, worried, grieving, sad, and often despairs. At the same time, when we reach heights and receive rewards for our achievements, we rejoice, rejoice, delight, triumph, and enjoy. Changes in mood, which occur depending on objective reasons and actual changes, are a normal natural state for any living creature.

However, there is a category of people whose mood swings are observed excessively often and spontaneously. Such persons, for no apparent reason, move from heartfelt laughter to miserable tears, from affectionate delight to angry anger. These people can be optimistic and energetic one moment, and then lose interest in life and feel apathy the next. Moreover, such mood swings can occur several times a day. Within one day, the world around us turns from a bright, joyful, full of plans and hopes into a dark and terrible abode of Satan.
In this case, we can assume that the person has a mental disorder called cyclothymia.

Cyclothymia: general information
The term “cyclothymia” is commonly understood as an excessively frequent causeless change in a person’s emotional state. Cyclothymia is characterized by sharp jumps in activity - from depression (dysthymia) to excitement (hyperthymia). A person suffering from cyclothymia is characterized by sudden changes in mood - from melancholy and apathy (depressive state) to euphoria (hypomanic effect).

People with cyclothymia experience an inadequate, overly intense reaction to events occurring in the environment. In situations of a positive nature, such individuals demonstrate great joy; in situations of a negative nature, their emotions are filled with deep tragedy. With positive changes, they are overly talkative and restless; with negative events, people with cyclothymia can fall into a stupor. They explode like a powder keg if even a tiny obstacle gets in their way. The smallest problem, for example, the breakdown of an electric kettle, can lead them into a state of depression, just as finding ten kopecks can cause euphoria.

Close people, work colleagues, and friends consider such individuals to be hot-tempered, fickle, and often strange. Indeed, their nervousness, irritability, and fussiness are very noticeable to others. Their actions and decisions are difficult to predict, their desires and needs are difficult to anticipate, their goals and motives are difficult to understand. Such persons are unable to control themselves, cannot follow one line of behavior, and do not keep their promises. In a word, when communicating with people suffering from cyclothymia, it is impossible to protect yourself from the flurry of surprises they create.

Another feature of cyclothymia is the following: fluctuations in the emotional state can occur in a certain sequence. A person may alternate between a period of high spirits, followed immediately by a period of depression. Such phases of the emotional state can be double. Also, between these polar states, a phase of mental well-being may occur, when a person’s mood remains constant and does not fluctuate due to minor reasons. It is worth noting that the duration of each cycle is individual for each person, as is the intensity of the phases of depression and mania.

It is precisely because the subject periodically experiences two polar emotional states that some doctors consider cyclothymia to be a mild form of bipolar affective disorder. It should be noted that people suffering from cyclothymia have a high risk of developing manic-depressive psychosis. Therefore, at the first signs of unjustified and illogical mood swings, it is advisable to consult a psychotherapist and undergo a course of treatment.

Cyclothymia is conventionally divided into several categories depending on the predominance of one or another emotional status. This affective disorder can occur in the form of vital, apathetic or anesthetic depression.

Cyclothymia can develop in people regardless of their gender and age, but most often this type of depression manifests itself in adolescence. Since the features of the juvenile stage include a lack of stability in emotional status, the signs of cyclothymia remain unattended and, accordingly, without treatment.
According to the World Health Organization, cyclothymia accounts for about 5% of all cases of affective disorders. Most of the patients are female, which can be explained by the specific tendency of women to melancholy and their strong impressionability. Doctors suggest that the incidence rates of cyclothymia are not accurately determined, since the unexpressed symptoms of the disorder are ignored by many contemporaries. This may explain the sad statistics indicating that affective bipolar disorder is diagnosed in people at late stages, which complicates the process of treating the disease.

Cyclothymia: why your mood constantly changes
The reasons for the formation and aggravation of cyclothymia have not been sufficiently studied. At the same time, there are a number of tested hypotheses about the origin of affective disorders. One of the most authoritative versions is the theory of genetic predisposition to mental disorders. A study of the family history of patients with cyclothymia confirms that the vast majority of patients had relatives suffering from depressive conditions. The risk group includes people whose parents or one of them suffered from manic-depressive psychosis. However, at the moment it has not been possible to identify the gene that is responsible for the formation of psychotic reactions.

The second hypothesis suggests that the cause of the development of cyclothymia is a failure in the production of neurotransmitters and metabolic disorders in the body’s neurotransmitter system. Very often, cyclothymia starts against the background of diseases of the endocrine system. An imbalance of hormones leads to lability of a person’s emotional status. Such hormonal imbalances are determined during pregnancy and childbirth, at the stage of puberty, and in the menopausal phase.
Often the cause of the development of cyclothymia is the use of certain pharmacological drugs. It has been established that the use of steroids has an extremely negative effect on a person’s mood, provoking his jumps. Symptoms of cyclothymia can be caused by the use of narcotic painkillers as analgesia. Another likely cause of cyclothymia is an imbalance of certain chemicals and compounds in the body. Changes in the concentration of iron and calcium can initiate depressive states.

Cyclothymia often develops after severe infectious and viral diseases, especially if a foreign harmful agent has a negative effect on brain cells. Also, the cause of this type of depression can be long-term chronic diseases, especially those that are accompanied by intense pain. Quite often, mood disorders accompany serious heart disease. Cyclothymia can also develop in patients who are forced to stay in a hospital for a long period and must remain in bed. Lack of positive emotions, daily monotony, lack of social contacts have a negative impact on a person’s emotional status.

The foundation for the emergence of cyclothymia is the specific personal constitution of the individual. At risk of developing depression are people who exhibit accentuated traits: nervousness and irritability, suspiciousness and impressionability, touchiness and vulnerability. The reason for the development of depression is a person’s low self-esteem, the presence of ideas about his own inferiority, uselessness, and worthlessness.

Also, the basis for the formation of affective disorders are character flaws that are the result of improper upbringing in childhood. Excessive parental care, excessive attention to the child, lack of reasonable restrictions, satisfaction of all his whims and whims negatively affect the upbringing of a full-fledged personality. At the same time, excessive pickiness, exactingness, and criticality shown by parents towards their offspring does not allow a happy personality to grow, preventing the formation of an adequate self-esteem of a person. According to psychologists, the most harmful way to raise a child is the pendulum-shaped model, which implies the absence of a unified strategy of behavior among parents, sharp fluctuations from prohibitions to connivance, and the lack of a common opinion among mom and dad regarding measures of reward and punishment. Such inconsistency in the actions of parents is destructive for the psyche of a fragile individual.

A common cause of cyclothymia is the effect of stress factors, both single and intense, and regular and chronic. Any mental trauma can cause regular mood swings: divorce, death of a loved one, major loss of one’s own property. Cyclothymia is also provoked by chronic stress, for example: living below the poverty line, inability to repay loan obligations, unfavorable atmosphere in the family. Cyclothymia is often recorded in people who voluntarily or forcibly stay in critical, unsafe situations. For example, those individuals who live in a war zone are at risk of experiencing the pangs of depression.

It should be noted that stressors are not only negative events. Positive events that happen suddenly can also cause disruption in the emotional sphere. Thus, the cause of cyclothymia can be both one’s own pregnancy and the subsequent birth of a child. Any change that globally affects a person’s habitual way of life can initiate mood disorders.
The obvious cause of cyclothymia is alcohol abuse and drug use. The toxic components of alcohol and drugs destroy the human nervous system and have a detrimental effect on the psyche. As addictions become more serious, all mental processes undergo enormous changes. Against the background of chronic alcoholism and drug addiction, a wide range of disorders debuts, among which depressive states take the lead.

Cyclothymia: how the disorder manifests itself
The symptoms of cyclothymia are almost identical to those of manic-depressive psychosis. However, compared to bipolar disorder, they are less intense and can be eliminated in a shorter period of time. The main criterion for determining the diagnosis of “cyclothymia” is the patient’s demonstration of symptoms of two opposing conditions: a mild depressive episode and a hypomanic phase. Moreover, the transition from one state to another does not occur quickly and abruptly, but gradually and smoothly. However, between the two polar stages there may be a gap of mental well-being.

Depressive episode
The main symptom of this stage is the dominance of a person’s sad, melancholy, pessimistic mood. The subject appears sad and melancholic, complaining that "the cats are scratching at my soul." A decrease in usual energy and a decrease in his social activity becomes noticeable. The decline in labor indicators in the professional sphere is especially noticeable. A person with cyclothymia lacks inspiration to perform previously enjoyable tasks. He fulfills his duties through force. Moreover, he often cannot complete the work he has started due to excessively rapid fatigue and difficulties in concentrating on one job.

Another symptom of cyclothymia is a person’s lack of “excitement” for life. Nothing interests you yet; previously pleasant moments do not bring pleasure. He refuses exciting activities and does not attend entertainment events. A certain social isolation of a person becomes noticeable to those around him. A patient with cyclothymia in the depression phase stops communicating with friends, does not visit relatives, and avoids collective Sabantuys. In such a depressed state, the individual prefers to be alone with himself, and often does not cross the threshold of his monastery at all.
An important symptom of a depressive episode with cyclothymia is the subject’s underestimation of existing abilities and denial of his own talents. A person becomes convinced that he has nothing to be proud of in this life, that he cannot achieve any heights. He evaluates his past extremely negatively, interprets the present skeptically, and sees the future in dark colors. His thinking and perception of reality is pessimistic. A patient with cyclothymia in the depressive phase neutrally or negatively interprets those phenomena that in a normal state of mind are considered joyful and pleasant.

In a state of depression, various sleep problems are very common. A person cannot fall asleep for a long time in the evening hours. Having fallen asleep, his night's rest is deprived of peace: he often awakens from nightmares and then again cannot fall asleep for a long time. In the morning he feels overwhelmed and exhausted, because his sleep did not bring energy and feelings of freshness. During the day he is distracted and lethargic, as he is overcome by drowsiness.
A significant deterioration in all cognitive and mnestic functions can also be determined. A depressed person has difficulty understanding new information and is unable to conduct a quick and in-depth analysis of data. Many patients with cyclothymia complain that it is difficult for them to find the words to respond to their opponent. They describe being unable to retrieve necessary information from memory. In the depression phase, the person’s speech also changes, becoming inexpressive, monotonous with a characteristic slow tempo. The processes of motor activity also slow down. Some patients describe that it is difficult for them to raise their arm, that every step is difficult for them. They do not feel physically healthy, feeling muscle flaccidity and lack of tone.

A particularly dangerous symptom of a depressive episode is the appearance in a person of obsessive, irresistible thoughts about his own guilt. Patients with cyclothymia and melancholia feel worthless and useless to society. They are haunted by a feeling of hopelessness, helplessness, and futility. However, suicidal activity with this type of depression occurs extremely rarely. If a patient has thoughts of suicide, it can be assumed that he has a more severe disorder than cyclothymia.

Hypomanic stage
The main symptom of the hypomanic phase is a significant increase in a person’s mood, up to euphoria. The subject is in a state of joy, carelessness, complacency, and such sensations do not correspond to the real state of affairs. He is distinguished by unjustified cheerfulness and enthusiasm for phenomena that are interpreted in society as neutral or negative. He is optimistic about his past, positive about his present, and predicts a great future.
Significant psychomotor agitation, facial and motor animation becomes noticeable. The patient's speech is intermittent, illogical, and delivered at a very fast pace. Characteristic are short phrases, often not spoken in full, but interrupted in the middle of the statement. A person in a state of cheerfulness often selects colorful words and piles up bright and absurd speech structures. The patient's facial expressions and gestures are very expressive. Being in a state of elation, a person cannot sit in one place and maintain the adopted position for a long time. He shifts from foot to foot, takes steps in place, or, without finishing the conversation, leaves in an unknown direction. When communicating with such a subject, one is struck by his familiarity, unceremoniousness, and irony.

The creative and productive activity of the patient in the hypomanic phase of depression increases significantly. However, human activity is devoid of organization, orderliness, and purposefulness. A person can grab onto several tasks at the same time, but does not bring any of them to completion.
During the hypomanic stage of cyclothymia, the subject experiences inappropriately inflated self-esteem. During this period, a person overestimates his own capabilities and inflates the size of his achievements. Some people may have ideas of their own greatness, but they never reach the proportions of delusion.

Due to a decrease in criticism of what is happening, the absence of a natural “brake” in mental processes, a person in the hypomanic phase embarks on various adventures. His need for social contacts increases, so he makes many new acquaintances, often with rather strange and immoral personalities. The patient’s need for intimate contact also increases, but he is promiscuous and unstable in his relationships, often changing his sexual partner.

Another characteristic symptom of the hypomanic phase of cyclothymia is a significant decrease in the need for sleep. Such a person can play tricks all night in a club and, without sleeping for an hour, go to work in the morning. In this state, people often begin to abuse alcoholic beverages and try drugs. It is manic excitement that pushes a person to participate in gambling and invest in adventurous ventures.
Some people in the hypomanic phase of cyclothymia experience an uncontrollable and misunderstood passion for wandering. They begin to wander aimlessly, they may change their place of residence and migrate to another country. Other people join sects and begin to preach wondrous religious cults. Third parties begin to acquire a lot of unnecessary and useless things, joining the ranks of shopaholics and Plushkins. However, at the end of the hypomanic phase, such passions, as a rule, disappear with the exception of addictions - alcoholism and drug addiction.

Cyclothymia: how to get rid of mood swings
What to do if your mood changes often? The first step is to visit a psychotherapist and establish the correct diagnosis. When the presence of cyclothymia is confirmed, treatment is based on the overriding principle: relief of symptoms of the current phase, prevention of the onset of the polar state, prevention of relapses.
Treatment for this form of depression most often occurs on an outpatient basis, without placing the patient in a hospital inpatient department. This step is justified by the fact that the subject retains the opportunity to fully function in society and is not deprived of the chance to maintain the usual rhythm of life.

The treatment regimen for cyclothymia is represented by two components:

taking pharmacological drugs;

psychotherapeutic influence.

It should be noted that medications prescribed for cyclothymia are taken over a fairly long period. In this case, it is extremely important to strictly follow the doctor’s recommendations: choosing a medication on your own can lead to a significant aggravation of the symptoms of the disorder. The basis of drug treatment is the latest generation of antidepressants with high therapeutic activity and no risk of transition to the opposite phase. In a hypomanic state, it is recommended to take mood stabilizers that have a prolonged effect. To get rid of emotional fluctuations, it is advisable to use mood stabilizers. With severe psychomotor agitation, the patient is prescribed antipsychotics.

Psychotherapeutic treatment is aimed at solving a number of important problems, among which the first place is given to psychological education. The therapist’s task is to prevent the development of auto-aggressive actions in a depressive episode and to prevent the formation of addictions in the hypomanic phase.
The doctor explains to the client the features of his condition, tries to discover the true cause of the disorder, and gives arguments for continuing psychotherapeutic treatment. In the process of psychotherapy, the patient learns the skills to prevent the return of a depressive or hypomanic state without damaging his personality and without harming his health. He learns ways to independently eliminate the manifestations of the polar stages.

Is it possible to get rid of mood swings on your own without turning to doctors for help? In mild forms, the disorder can be corrected without medical intervention. However, success can only be achieved if a person is able to recognize his individuality and is ready to expend energy on transforming his own personality. To get rid of cyclothymia, the subject must find suitable ways to relieve psycho-emotional stress and put relaxation techniques into practice. A good help in overcoming cyclothymia is wushu gymnastics with its excellent exercises that restore the balance of mental processes. A good option for getting rid of cyclothymia is a daily yoga practice. This Eastern philosophy is structured in such a way that a person can fully understand his personality and transform his inner world. We should not forget about the benefits of regular breathing exercises.

In the case of cyclothymia, the following statement is true: a person’s mental health is in his hands. By getting to know oneself, discovering and eliminating the cause of the disease, changing the way of thinking, giving oneself proper rest, a person will say goodbye to mood swings that interfere with a full life.

It is natural for people to be upset and depressed because of problems and difficulties, just as it is natural for people to be happy and experience positive emotions. But sometimes mood swings occur regardless of the situation, disrupt the usual flow of life, and create tension in relationships with family members, colleagues, and friends. If this happens frequently and without reason, the person may be suffering from some type of emotional disorder or physical illness.

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Why does your mood change?

Some people experience sudden mood swings several times throughout the day. A positive attitude can suddenly give way to irritation, anger, rage, or depression and apathy. This behavior negatively affects the person himself and the people nearby. The misunderstanding of others causes a feeling of guilt in the captive of emotions, and he himself does not understand why his feelings are like a roller coaster.

Often people themselves are to blame for behavioral disorders. Suspiciousness, anxiety, suspicion, inability to build relationships and resolve conflict situations deprive a person of psychological stability. The following factors influence the emotional mood:

1. 1. A state of constant anxiety. Instead of living in the present, a person returns to the past, remembering and analyzing failures, mistakes, mistakes. He sees the future as full of negative events, worries about himself and his loved ones, and is constantly in tension, expecting bad news.
2. 2. Excessive demands on yourself and others. People with this attitude are never satisfied with life, realizing that they are unable to live up to the ideal they strive for. This causes a negative attitude towards oneself, neuroses, and unstable mood.
3. 3. Emotional immaturity. People who do not know how to get out of conflict situations with dignity suffer from frequent mood swings under the influence of troubles at work, family troubles, instability, and changes in life.
4. 4. Lack of love in the family. Children who grew up in families where they lacked attention and care often suffer from emotional disorders in adulthood, accompanied by mood swings.
5. 5. Being in any kind of addiction (alcohol, drugs, gaming, sexual, computer, etc.).

A sudden change in mood does not necessarily indicate problems in the emotional sphere; there is often a physiological reason for this.

Physical and psychological reasons

If the alternation of euphoria and depression is accompanied by weight loss or gain, sleep and appetite disturbances, shortness of breath, menstrual cycle disruption in women, nausea, dizziness, and tremors of the extremities, a doctor’s consultation is necessary. Often the cause of emotional instability is illness.

Organs that influence mood:

1. 1. Thyroid gland. Increased production of thyroid hormone leads to irritability, short temper, and nervousness. A decrease in the concentration of the hormone slows down the metabolism in the body, making a person apathetic, weak, and depressed.
2. 2. Cardiovascular system. Tachycardia and increased blood pressure contribute to the production of adrenaline, as a result of which a person feels bouts of fear and anxiety.
3. 3. Diseases of the liver and gall bladder. Short-term outbursts of anger in this case are provoked by the release of norepinephrine caused by spasm of the bile ducts.
4. 4. Diabetes mellitus. A diabetic's mood can fluctuate along with blood sugar levels, changing from fun and joy to withdrawal, irritation, anxiety, and fear.

To identify internal pathology, an examination by a therapist, cardiologist, or endocrinologist is necessary. Without treatment for a disease that provokes frequent mood swings, advice from a psychologist, taking sedatives and antidepressants will not bring the expected result.

In addition to the general factors that cause emotional disruptions, there are specific ones for women, men and children, due to the characteristics of the psyche, physiology, and age-related changes in the body.



In men

Men are expected to have willpower, masculinity, perseverance, and the ability to endure difficulties with an unbending back, but a significant part of the strong half of humanity does not meet these expectations. They are susceptible to fear, anxiety, nervous tension, and stress. Fatigue, worries related to financial concerns for the family, misunderstanding of the wife, problems at work can cause mood swings, despondency, and a depressed state in a man.

Other causes of emotional breakdowns are bad habits and midlife crisis. Addiction to alcohol, drugs, gambling, and watching pornography negatively affects the male psyche.



In such people, mood swings can be dangerous, as they lead to aggression towards family members.

Among women

In the fairer sex, frequent attacks of anger, tearfulness, and hysteria occur against the background of hormonal changes during menstruation, during the period of bearing and feeding a child, and during menopause. For many, such manifestations are caused by PMS (premenstrual syndrome), while others suffer from emotional disturbances after menstruation.

Bad habits, dissatisfaction with appearance, unsatisfied desires, lack of personal life, constant stress, tense relationships in the family and at work leave an imprint on the psycho-emotional side of a woman’s personality, making her nervous, prone to unstable moods, and susceptible to depression.

In young children, mood swings are observed during periods of age-related crises. In a similar way, the child tries to capture the attention of adults, reacts to an unfavorable situation in the family, conflicts between parents. The costs of education also affect the child’s behavior. Excessive control, guardianship, unjustified prohibitions, and excessive demands provoke an emotional response in the child in the form of outbursts of aggression, uncontrollability, and stubbornness.

During puberty, the psyche of children becomes especially vulnerable and susceptible to the influence of external factors. Against the background of a hormonal surge, any event can cause a storm of emotions in a teenager, positive or negative.

In a young guy, a change in mood is caused by a reduced level of the sex hormone testosterone, which is responsible for timely puberty. For a girl, the impetus for the appearance of behavioral disorders can be dissatisfaction with her appearance, loss of attention of the opposite sex, difficulties in communicating with peers, the onset of a monthly cycle and the associated surge of hormones.

Adolescent depression, which has become an epidemic in recent decades, is a source of serious concern. If you notice symptoms of extreme depression, gloominess, and reluctance to do your usual work, do what you love, or take care of yourself in your son or daughter, you need to consult a psychologist. It is dangerous to ignore the signs of depression in a teenager, since a child’s prolonged stay in this state threatens his life: depression is responsible for the majority of teenage suicides.

Mental disorders

The most common cause of mood swings are neuropsychiatric disorders, observed in people of both sexes, different age and social groups. Mental imbalance can be temporary, depending on internal or external stimuli, but sometimes reaches critical levels in the form of severe depression and neurosis.

Frequent and rapid changes in emotional reactions occur in the following conditions:

• hysteria - a disorder with a violation of motor, autonomic, behavioral reactions, the individual’s desire to attract attention to himself with tears, screaming, unnatural laughter, inappropriate behavior;
• cyclothymia, a feature of which is a rapid transition from euphoria to extreme depression and sadness;
• bipolar disorder or manic-depressive psychosis;
• dysthymia - mild stage of depression;
• borderline state is a personality disorder characterized by inability to live in society and an inability to communicate with others;
• panic attacks - attacks of inexplicable fear, panic, anxiety, accompanied by symptoms of vegetative-vascular dystonia;
• depression.

The mechanism that triggers a temporary deviation in mental health is stressful situations, circumstances requiring nervous tension (exams, an important meeting), for people with weather dependence - weather changes, moving to another climatic zone.

Prevention and treatment

Prevention of behavioral deviations is proper upbringing from infancy, attention to the emotional needs of the child, treating him as an individual, respecting his views and preferences. Consistency and coordinated actions of the parents are no less important (what the father forbade, the mother does not allow), otherwise the child will learn resourcefulness and opportunism from an early age, which will negatively affect his mental development.

The age of puberty requires special attention and effort from parents. At this time, the child must be treated as an adult, respecting his right to choose friends, extracurricular activities, music, clothing, and entertainment. At the same time, it is necessary to stipulate prohibitions and restrictions, clearly explaining why they are necessary. This way, parents will be able to develop a trusting relationship with a teenager and go through a difficult age together, without traumatizing the immature psyche of the matured child.

A simple but effective means of preventing and treating mood swings in adults and children are adherence to diet, sleep, work and rest, moderate physical activity, and spending time in the fresh air. Automotive training techniques, meditation, and yoga will help normalize the psycho-emotional background and restore mental balance after experiencing stress, conflict, and troubles. Food rich in vitamins and microelements has a beneficial effect on the nervous system and the general condition of the body.

In cases of stable problems with emotional mood, they resort to the help of sedatives, nootropics, antidepressants, and tranquilizers. These medications belong to the group of potent drugs, some are addictive, so it is unacceptable to use them yourself.

Everyone experiences mood swings from time to time. But for some reason, women are most susceptible to them. This is often perceived as a sign of hysteria, bad upbringing, or capriciousness. In fact, the reason lies in the physiology of the female body, and sudden emotional outbursts can serve as a symptom of a health problem.

The main causes of mood swings in women

There is a special term - "affective disorder". It denotes a deviation in emotional behavior, when for a short period of time a woman is able to cry, laugh, feel anger, tenderness, etc.

According to statistics, about 15% of the fair half of humanity have encountered this condition. However, women who have entered menopause are most susceptible to affective disorder.

It has been noted that this problem rarely occurs among women living in rural areas. Therefore, it can be argued that the rapid pace of city life and high psychological stress are largely the provoking factor of affective disorder.

Due to a sharp change in emotional mood, close people and the mental health of the woman herself suffer. Therefore, doctors often advise ladies to learn to control themselves or even undergo treatment.

You can independently determine the presence of emotional instability if you pay attention to 2 characteristic symptoms: sudden and causeless mood changes, as well as loss of appetite. It is worth noting that a woman does not necessarily begin to experience an aversion to food; on the contrary, her appetite can increase significantly, which often leads to excess weight gain.

The main reasons for frequent mood swings can be identified:

• Hormonal imbalance – hormonal imbalance often causes mood swings in pregnant women or women going through menopause. This is due to a sharp change in the concentration of progesterone and estrogen. However, the reason is not always so obvious; a disruption in hormonal balance can occur due to a number of diseases, for example, as a result of dysfunction of the ovaries or adrenal cortex, which produce these substances;
• Premenstrual syndrome is also associated with hormone concentrations and occurs in approximately half of women of childbearing age. Most often, frequent mood swings occur in the period after ovulation and continue until the onset of menstruation;
• The presence of psychological stimuli can lead to emotional instability. Provocateurs are usually family problems, lack of mutual understanding with a spouse, and frequent conflicts with loved ones. These include stressful situations that can cause unnecessary psychological stress.

In most cases, a woman is able to control her emotions. But there are cases when the use of drug therapy is necessary to treat a mood disorder.

How can a woman get rid of sudden mood swings?

Before resorting to pharmacological drugs, you should find out the exact cause of the instability of the emotional background. Depending on it, treatment is carried out, which may include taking hormonal drugs to normalize the condition.

Mild sedatives are used and must be prescribed by a doctor.

In the absence of allergies, a woman can drink decoctions of medicinal herbs that have calming qualities: motherwort, mint, valerian, lemon balm.

If the causes of an affective disorder do not depend on hormonal imbalance and mood swings do not take on a threatening nature, it is better not to use medications, but to learn to control them.

The following methods will help with this:

• Yoga classes are aimed specifically at increasing concentration and the ability to control oneself. It is advisable to master the basics of art under the guidance of an experienced trainer, without using tutorials;
• Aromatherapy can reduce mood swings in women. Jasmine, chamomile, rose, mint oils quickly relieve irritability and help achieve peace. It is enough to take warm baths with the addition of a few drops of oils or use candles and incense sticks. It’s just not recommended to use this product often, as the rich aroma can cause headaches;
• Psychological help will be useful for a lady who cannot control her own emotions. There is a special direction - behavioral therapy, which allows you to keep your irritability “in check”;
• It is necessary to maintain the correct daily routine, devoting enough time to rest. You need to allocate at least 8 hours for sleep, since constant lack of sleep leads to nervous breakdowns. It is advisable to spend more time in the fresh air, taking leisurely walks, and practicing feasible physical activity. Particular attention is paid to nutrition, which should include more fruits, dairy products, and vegetables.

Knowing how to cope with mood swings, even with hormonal imbalance, you can significantly increase your own comfort and ensure the normal life of your loved ones without disturbing them with sudden and causeless bouts of fun or irritability.

Every female representative has situations when her wonderful mood, when she rejoices and laughs, is replaced by tears and anger. At such moments, it is usually customary to talk about a sharp change in mood, but psychologists say that this is just a series of emotions, a normal reaction to a change in events. The speed of mood change depends on the girl’s character. Experts talk about changes only in cases where the mood changes instantly without any particular reason, often for the worse.

Causes of mood swings

Psychologists identify several reasons for the frequent changes in women’s moods:

1. Hormone surges in the body. Most often observed during ovulation, menstruation or menopause;
2. Emotional fatigue. In the modern pace of life, a woman must keep up with everything. On her shoulders is family, work, shopping. There is practically no time left for rest;
3. Stress that lasts for a long time.

The influence of the physiological cycle and external factors on frequent mood swings

The female cycle has a huge impact on your mood. There is such a thing as premenstrual syndrome, which is characterized by tearfulness, increased irritability, and hot temper. All this happens due to hormonal changes that occur in the female body. The egg remains unfertilized and leaves the body. Any woman, regardless of whether she wants to have children or not, on a subconscious level was preparing to become a mother, but this did not happen. During the ovulation period, a woman becomes prettier, blossoms, and is in excellent condition.

Women's mood swings are also influenced by external factors such as weather conditions. In spring and autumn, when it rains constantly and there is not enough sunlight, a woman can become depressed. Lunar phases also have an impact on the condition of women. It is believed that during the waxing moon, strength increases and mood improves. On the waning moon, on the contrary, there is a loss of strength.

How to deal with mood swings

To cope with their emotions, women should try to follow the advice of psychologists:

1. When a girl realizes that her mood begins to change sharply, she needs to change her type of activity, that is, do something else, something that does not irritate her;
2. At the moment of anger, you should try to stay alone for at least a few minutes in order to calm down and not do anything stupid;
3. If a wave of negative emotions comes up, you can drink water in small sips or try breathing exercises;
4. Exercising will help relieve stress;
5. Aromatherapy calms and relaxes;
6. You need to fill your life with bright colors - go to concerts, travel, find a hobby;
7. To cope with emotions, anger and rage, a woman needs to communicate with people she likes - friends, colleagues, relatives;
8. If you wish, you can make an appointment with a psychologist and together with him create an individual program to combat mood swings.

If a woman knows how she can cope with her emotions, how to deal with mood swings, she will be able to make her life and the lives of her loved ones easier.