Mood changes refer to shifts or fluctuations in a person's emotional state. Moods can vary greatly in both intensity and duration. It's normal for people to experience occasional mood swings, but excessive or prolonged mood disturbances may signal an underlying mental health issue. There are several key things to understand about mood changes:
- Causes - Many factors can trigger mood shifts, including stressful events, lack of sleep, diet, hormonal fluctuations, and some medical conditions. For some, moods can change for no obvious reason due to brain chemistry.
- Types of moods - Common types of mood changes include feelings of anxiety, sadness, irritability, euphoria, and apathy.
- Duration - Mood changes can be short-term and linked to specific stressors or long-lasting for weeks or months.
- Disorders - Various mental health disorders involve ongoing problems regulating mood, including depression, bipolar disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).
- Management - Tactics for coping with difficult mood changes include stress management techniques, exercise, social support, therapy, and sometimes medications. Maintaining healthy lifestyle habits can also help stabilize mood.
- When to seek help - If mood disruptions are happening frequently or significantly impacting daily life functioning over a period of weeks, a psychiatric assessment may be needed. Some signs that moods are becoming concerning include persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, trouble sleeping, withdrawing socially, and suicidal thoughts.