It’s a fact of life — some days are just better than others. You might wake up feeling great and full of pleasantries, but as the day progresses and you forget to eat or grow tired, your mood may shift toward irritability. This kind of mood swing is completely normal and affects everyone.
Mood swings are normal, as long as they don’t negatively affect your life or the lives of those close to you.
Your natural biorhythms can affect your mood. Low blood sugar, impending illness, disappointment, or hormonal changes can also play a role in your mood.
Severe mood swings are a possible indication of a mental illness. If you have a family member who has mood swings that affect your relationship, their job, or their overall well-being, they may benefit from scheduling a consultation at South Plains Rural Health Services.
The practice has a team of mental health professionals who can treat severe mood swings or offer lifestyle changes to help find more balance and consistency when it comes to their demeanor.
Stress can be a big trigger for mood swings as can a lack of sleep or skipping meals. In these cases, helping support them and taking some tasks off of their plate can help them take time to relax. Supporting good sleep habits and meal times also helps.
Hormonal changes can also be behind a loved one’s mood changes. Men and women are susceptible to changes in their hormones as they age. If your loved one suspects hormones are to blame, talk to us about hormone replacement therapy.
If your loved one’s mood swings seem out of control or completely irrational, it could be a result of a mental health disorder.
Generalized anxiety disorder can make it hard for a person to control their worries and fears. In serious cases, a person may snap regularly and find it hard to get through the day.
Severe swings between periods of mania and depression could signal bipolar disorder. Periods of mania may show up as elation, irresponsible behavior, and lack of quality sleep. After a few weeks of mania, the same person falls into the depths of depression may not feel like getting out of bed, feel unmotivated, and even contemplate self-harm.
Depression can also lead to mood swings. They’ll have days where they are quite low and some days when they seem just fine (but not manic).
Borderline personality disorder is another mental illness that shows up as intense shifts in mood. Although people with borderline personality disorder do not experience mania, they can shift quickly from anxious to angry when faced with a stressful situation.
Children and adults with ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, may have serious mood swings because of frustration and difficulty in controlling their emotions and reactions.
At South Plains Rural Health Services, our mental health team offers an evaluation of anyone who is concerned about mood swings and how those swings affect their life and relationships. Of course, you can’t force an adult loved one to come see us, but you can definitely encourage them to seek help.
The mental health services we offer include talk therapy, medications, and behavioral changes to help stabilize mental well-being and, subsequently, mood.
Reach out if you need help with your own or a loved one’s mental health. Contact South Plains Rural Health Services in Levelland, Lamesa, or Big Spring, Texas. Call our nearest location today, or use the online tool to set up an appointment.
