What is mood changes?
Mood changes refer to shifts or fluctuations in a person's emotional state. Some key points about mood changes include:
Common Causes
- Hormone changes - Fluctuations in hormones like estrogen, testosterone, and cortisol can trigger mood swings. Hormone imbalances often coincide with puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause. Our clinicians at Hormone Harmony Clinic specialize in hormonal testing and treatment plans tailored to your unique needs.
- Stress - High stress levels can drastically impact moods. Stressors like work, relationships, trauma, or illness can cause irritability, anxiety, sadness and more.
- Diet - What we eat and drink impacts neurotransmitters and hormones that regulate mood. Deficiencies in nutrients like omega-3s, B vitamins, magnesium, and iron are linked to poor mood.
- Sleep changes - Lack of quality sleep disrupts circadian rhythms and impairs emotional regulation. Most adults need 7-9 hours per night.
Types of Mood Changes
- Depression - Persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest. Can be mild, moderate or severe.
- Mania - Distinct time period of elevated, expansive, or irritated mood plus other symptoms like impulsivity and insomnia. Often seen in bipolar disorder.
- Anxiety - Excessive worries and tension paired with physical symptoms like muscle tension, fatigue, restless thoughts.
- Emotional lability - When emotions frequently shift back and forth between depression, irritability, and anxiety. Common in borderline personality disorder or as a medication side effect.
Management
Effective mood change management depends on the underlying cause but often includes:
- Professional support - Therapists, psychiatrists, medical doctors, and nutritionists can provide customized treatment plans. The capable staff at Hormone Harmony Clinic works closely with patients to improve hormone balance and mood stability.
- Lifestyle changes - Getting regular exercise, enough sleep, a nutrient-dense diet, sunlight exposure, stress-management skills, and meaningful social connections. Keeping a consistent daily routine also helps regulate mood.
- Medications - Such as SSRIs, SNRIs, mood stabilizers, anxiolytics. Should be carefully monitored by a doctor.
In summary, mood changes involve shifts in emotion often caused by hormones, stress, diet, sleep and more. Seeking professional support, making lifestyle changes, and taking medications (if needed) can help manage difficult mood issues. Reach out to our compassionate team at Hormone Harmony Clinic if your mood concerns may be hormone-related. We're here to help get your moods back on track!