5 conditions that can cause frequent mood swings

Mood swings refer to the rapid and drastic changes in moods, hence ‘swinging’ between moods. Whilst it is natural for us to sometimes go from one feeling to another due to people around us, or some circumstances, it’s not okay to be feeling this way all the time. Having episodes of shifting mood is not a normal state of the body and might just be a symptom of a disease.

However, it is important to realize not every mood shift is alarming. Women, for example, experience mood swings prior to their periods. But it is not normal to change moods that disrupt your entire life and are unpredictable in frequency and pattern.

Serious signs of Mood Swings:

Danger bells should ring when the shift in moods is drastic and disruptive. If you are experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions; happy one minute and depressed the other without any obvious reason, if you feel like you might harm yourself, if you are not able to carry out on your daily activities, it’s time to get help.

The signs above are not your ordinary mood swings. They may just be indicators of some health condition. Visit a facility like Quaid-e-Azam Hospital that has good doctors who are able to find the reason for these shifts. Not treating the fundamental cause of mood swings can severely impact life, as the conditions causing them are not to be taken lightly. Some such conditions are as follows: 

One of the most alarming causes of mood swings are the underlying mental issues. One such condition is Bipolar Disorder where the person experiences a range of emotions; one moment they are feeling depressed and the next they get over-excited. This is why it was called manic depression as well.

Borderline Personality Disorder too results in severe mood changes. It causes erratic moods and personality. The instability it breeds impacts all aspects of the patient’s life and prevents them from having a wholesome life.

Moreover, people suffering from depression also experience mood-fluctuations. Depressed people have episodes where their mood shifts towards sadness and melancholy. They get irritated and sad very quickly i.e. have a volatile temper. They also experience lethargy and don’t therefore have an active life, social or otherwise.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, more commonly known as ADHD may also be responsible for mood-shifts. Such people have a very small attention span and thus get distracted easily. It also makes them more easily irritable.

Human body does not react well to changes in hormone levels. One such reaction are the mood shifts. Since women experience more of these fluctuations, they are more prone to suffer from the mood-swings. PMS or Premenstrual Syndrome is a well-known condition characterized by getting teary or angry very quickly. Episodes of binge-eating and sleeping are also not uncommon. Usually these symptoms occur 1-2 week before getting periods.

Apparently, spike in estrogen is responsible for this escalation in mood-spike. Pregnant women too are prone to some severe mood-swings. Women undergoing menopause get their fair share of mood-episodes as well. Moreover, puberty also causes a person to become temperamental.

Physical health too can take a toll on mental wellbeing. At times, physical illnesses can lead to shifting mood as well. More commonly, diseases like those of the cardiovascular system, lungs and thyroid are known to cause mood swings. Mood swings are also symptoms of different ailments; for example, initial symptoms of Huntington’s Disease includes mood swing along with depression.

Furthermore, brain injuries also lead to instability in moods. Trauma to the brain affects the mechanism of the regulation of emotions which then manifests in the form of erratic behavior.

The importance of getting proper sleep cannot be stressed enough. Not getting the requisite sleep, or not getting uninterrupted shuteye can lead to mood swings. Such people have prickly predispositions that tend to get better through the day.

Chronic sleep deprivation, or insomnia also causes mood swings. Such people tend to get anxious and depressed. This not only affects their mental health, but their physical health is also compromised. Insomnia increases the susceptibility of getting chronic diseases.

Taking too much stress too can result in mood-shifts. It is not entirely possible to live without stress, its part and parcel of life. Problem occurs when the stress levels are high all the time and start impacting all facets of life. High levels of stress can impact the hormones that regulate the mood of the person, leading to fluctuations that cause shifts in mood. Perpetually high levels of stress are extremely bad for the body as it lowers immunity and increases the risk of developing conditions like heart diseases.

Mood swings are not to be taken lightly. It is not natural for the body to persistently shift from one mood to another without a stimulus. Therefore, if this condition has been occurring for some time without any external trigger, you should consult good doctors, like those at Ittefaq Hospital, immediately. The causes of mood swings include serious mental and physical diseases thereby making it necessary to have a qualified diagnosis. It is always better to be safe than sorry.