One moment, you’re relaxed and happy. Suddenly, with little to no warning, you’re angry and irritable. If these types of attitude shifts happen frequently, they could be a symptom of an underlying medical or mental health concern. Understanding their possible causes can be an important part of learning how to deal with mood swings
What Are Mood Swings?
Mood swings are sudden, often unpredictable changes in your mindset and attitude. They can be extremely disruptive and distressing, both to the person who experiences them and to their friends, colleagues, and family members.
Mental Health Disorders That Cause Mood Swings
Examples of mental illnesses that can cause mood swings include:
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Anxiety disorders
- Depressive disorders
- Bipolar disorder
- Borderline personality disorder (BPD)
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Schizophrenia
Of the list above, bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder are perhaps most closely associated with mood swings.
Depending on which type of bipolar disorder a person has (bipolar I disorder, bipolar II disorder, or cyclothymia), their symptoms may include:
- Manic episodes, which are weeklong periods of elevated mood, enhanced self-confidence, excessive energy, and little or no need for sleep
- Hypomanic episodes, which are similar to manic episodes, but with symptoms that only last for four days
- Major depressive episodes, which involve persistent sadness, lack of energy and motivation, diminished self-confidence, and recurrent thoughts of death and dying, typically lasting for at least two weeks
- Recurring symptoms of hypomania and depression that don’t last long enough to qualify as a full episode
The mood swings that are characteristic of borderline personality disorder can include dramatic shifts in how people feel about themselves and others:
- In the context of their relationships, people with BPD will alternate between idealizing and devaluing their partners.
- Regarding their own sense of self, individuals with BPD often experience brief but intense periods of dysphoria (deep unhappiness or discontent), as well as anxiety and irritability.
As we will discuss in the next section, mood swings aren’t only caused by mental illnesses. But if you’ve been struggling with how to control mood swings, scheduling a mental health assessment may be an ideal first step.
If your assessment ends with a mental health diagnosis, you can then pursue appropriate treatment for the condition you’ve been diagnosed with. If the assessment rules out mental illness as a contributing factor to your mood swings, you can then focus on other potential causes.
Other Causes
If an assessment determines that you don’t have a mental health concern, your mood swings could be related to various medical, behavioral, or social causes, such as:
- Grief: In the immediate aftermath of a significant loss, it’s common to struggle with conflicting, rapidly shifting emotions. This internal turmoil can cause extreme mood swings.
- Stress: Exposure to overwhelming stress and pressure can have a profound negative impact on your physical health and mental well-being. This impact can include substantial changes in mood, attitude, and energy.
- Medical issues: Brain tumors, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), and neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease are among the many medical concerns that can cause people to undergo drastic shifts in mood.
Guide on How to Deal With Mood Swings
Knowing their cause can certainly help you determine the most effective techniques for how to deal with mood swings. But you don’t have to wait for a diagnosis before you start to explore options for managing their intensity and minimizing the effect they have on your life.
Here are a few strategies for how to deal with mood swings:
- Mindfulness and meditation can help you accept what’s going on in your life without negative judgements or reflexive reactions.
- Journaling can help you express your feelings without lashing out at others. Regularly recording your thoughts and emotions may also help you recognize unhealthy behavior patterns or identify triggers, which are circumstances that often precede your mood swings.
- Reducing or ending your substance use can help you maintain a more even keel. And yes, this includes altering or ending your intake of alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine.
- Changing medications or adjusting your dosage level (which you should only do after consulting with your physician) may eliminate mood-related side effects.
It may also be helpful to consider the impact of lifestyle factors such as your dietary habits, exercise regimen, and sleep patterns:
- A healthy diet plan will ensure that your body and mind are getting the nutrients they need to function at full capacity. A poor diet, such as one that is rich in processed carbohydrates and sugar, can destabilize your emotional well-being and undermine your overall health.
- Physical activity can be an excellent stress-management tool. It can also help you keep your body strong and your mind sharp. This doesn’t mean you need to commit to a strict workout regimen. Low-impact options such as walking, bike riding, and yoga can make a true and lasting difference in your life.
- Both insomnia (difficulty getting to sleep) and hypersomnia (sleeping too much) can contribute to exhaustion, which can increase your risk of irritability, anxiety, and mood swings. Getting an appropriate amount of healthy sleep can help you manage stress and maintain a more consistent mood.
Types of Treatment that Help Deal With Mood Swings
If the techniques we listed in the previous section don’t have a noticeable impact on your mood swings, professional treatment may be the best next step.
Various forms of treatment can help people learn how to control mood swings, but no technique or course of care is ideal for everyone. This is why it is so important to find a provider who will work closely with you to understand your specific history, needs, and goals, then develop a customized plan just for you.
Depending on an array of individual factors, treatment to help you deal with mood swings may include:
- Medication
- Individual psychotherapy
- Group therapy
- Family therapy
- Psychoeducation sessions
- Skills development sessions
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy
- Holistic therapies
Once you’ve completed treatment, you may also benefit from participating in a peer support group or a similar service. These opportunities can help you maintain and build on the progress you made while you were in treatment.
Contact Montare Behavioral Health to Treat Mood Swings
Montare Behavioral Health offers a full continuum of personalized care for adults who have been experiencing mood swings and other mental health concerns.
Our network includes multiple facilities in convenient locations throughout Southern California. Level-of-care options at these centers include inpatient care, partial hospitalization/day treatment, intensive outpatient programming, and outpatient services.
To learn more about how we can help you or a loved one learn how to control mood swings, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Contact page or call us today.
Published: 10/23/2024
