Key Takeaways
Mood swings are sudden changes in a person’s emotional state.
Causes of mood swings include going through different mental and physical health conditions like bipolar disorder, thyroid disorders, schizophrenia, and more.
Mood swings are something that both males and females experience in their lifetimes. But when they happen frequently, they can pose difficulties in your day-to-day life. Following, we will provide an overview of the causes that may result in mood swings.
What are Mood Swings?
Mood swings, often mistaken for other mental health disorders, are abnormal or intense mood changes in your life due to changing levels of brain chemicals. It’s crucial to differentiate between mood swings and conditions like bipolar affective disorder, as this understanding can guide you in identifying your own symptoms and seeking the right help.
Dr. Era Dutta, an experienced psychiatrist who advocates mental health awareness, quotes:
“Mood swings can also happen normally in just day-to-day life. It happens to you. It happens to me. It happens to everybody. So just because you had a mood swing doesn’t mean that you have bipolar affective disorder.”
Causes of Mood Swings
Different health conditions can affect your mood and cause a disturbance in your day-to-day life. Here are some of the mental health disorders that can cause mood swings:
Bipolar Disorder (BD)
Mood swings in bipolar disorder can occur several times in a year. The main symptom of bipolar disorder is the shift from an extreme mood to another, like feeling euphoric one moment and then sad in another.
Following, Dr. Sohom Das, a consultant forensic psychiatrist, explains how mood swings are different from the widespread mental health condition bipolar disorder:
“Bipolar disorder is not just mood swings; it’s so much more. It can be a very debilitating mental illness. Some people can function very well with it; some people struggle and need to go to the hospital and need to be medicated… I don’t think it’s right to call just mood swings bipolar.”
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
Depression is among the most common mental health conditions; it is likely to impact a person’s mood and even their daily life. While you may have persistent sadness, you can also enjoy a good mood in between.
Persistent depressive disorder (PDD)
PDD also affects a person’s mood negatively, as they can suffer feelings of depression for at least two years. When compared to MDD, PDD’s symptoms are less severe.
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
Intense mood swings, having trouble managing one’s emotions, and feeling other similar feelings are common symptoms of the condition. It affects the way you feel about yourself and others.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a chronic mental health disease that often results in hallucinations, delusions, and even mood swings in your life.
Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
ADHD is a personality disorder that can be experienced by people when they cannot manage their emotions and experience symptoms like difficulty paying attention and hyperactivity, resulting in mood swings.
Cyclothymia
Having similar symptoms as bipolar disorder, cyclothymia is also characterized by periods of intense emotion. It is, however, less severe than BD.
Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
In DMDD, you can experience intense shifts in mood and negative behaviors like anger, irritability, and temper outbursts.
Physical Health Issues
It’s important to note that physical health issues, such as chronic conditions, can significantly alter a person’s mood. Understanding this connection can broaden your perspective on mood swings and encourage you to consider your overall health when experiencing mood changes.
- Substance Use Disorder (SUB)
- Going through heart condition like a stroke or coronary heart disease
- Diabetes
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Terminal diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Thyroid disorders
- Epilepsy
- HIV
Mood Swings in Female
Causes of mood swings in females include menstruation, menopause, and pregnancy. Here is an overview of conditions that can impact your mood:
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
Mood swings, apart from bloating and food cravings, are among the most common symptoms that can arise in females before their menstrual period starts.
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)
Similar to PMS, PMDD is a more severe condition of the former. Symptoms include extreme changes in mood, persistent irritability or anger, and depression or anxiety.
Menopause
When a person reaches menopause, their menstrual cycle naturally ends. Apart from the problem of sleeping and experiencing symptoms like hot flashes, women’s changes in mood are also common during menopause. Observations from research done on menopausal transition (MT) show that women in the MT stage are more prone to depression.
Mood Swings in Pregnancy
There is a wide range of hormonal changes that are common to experience during pregnancy. It can cause both physical and emotional changes, like mood swings and anxiety. Some women can experience mood swings in their first trimester, while others endure them throughout their pregnancy.
Mood Swings in Male
Contrary to popular belief, men can also experience mood swings. In fact, a specific condition has been identified to describe this phenomenon in men-irritable Man Syndrome or Irritable Male Syndrome (IMS).
This condition, caused by high-stress cortisol levels and low testosterone levels, can manifest as irritability, emotional suppression, and even depression. Understanding IMS can help men recognize these symptoms and seek appropriate support.
Common mood swings and behaviors characteristic of Irritable Men Syndrome (IMS) include:
- Feeling Angry or impatient
- Being overly sarcastic or reckless
- Anxiousness
- Hostile
- Unloving
According to a study, findings show that mood swings (MS) are associated with significant bullying, use of social media sites, and family and school characteristics. To overcome this situation, we all need to play our part, remove the stigma, and raise public awareness about the importance of MS screening. If your mood swings are consistent, then you can fill out a mood disorder questionnaire. It will help a professional assess your mental health condition.
Conclusion
After understanding the causes and treatment of mood swings that both males and females experience, we can follow different strategies to manage our moods at a particular time and enhance our overall well-being.
