Mood changes - Restore Health Clinic

Mood Changes

Mood changes refer to shifts or fluctuations in a person's emotional state. Moods can vary from positive feelings like happiness and excitement to negative feelings like anger or sadness. Mood changes are a normal part of the human experience. However, some individuals may experience more intense or frequent mood swings that negatively impact their daily functioning.

There are many potential causes of mood changes, including:

• Hormonal fluctuations: Hormones like estrogen, testosterone, and cortisol impact mood and can cause mood swings during puberty, menstruation, and menopause.
• Stress: Stressful life events, trauma, chronic stress, or burnout can alter brain chemistry and lead to mood disturbances. Even small daily stressors can accumulate over time.
• Lack of sleep: Not getting enough sleep has been associated with moodiness, irritability, and emotional reactivity. Sleep impacts hormone regulation.
• Diet and nutrition: Blood sugar highs and crashes from poor diet, low iron levels, vitamin D deficiency, and dehydration may trigger mood changes.
• Medications: Certain prescription drugs, herbal remedies, and over-the-counter medicines have mood fluctuations as potential side effects.
• Underlying health conditions: Thyroid disorders, chronic pain, dementia, heart disease, and cancer are a few examples of medical issues that commonly co-occur with mood changes.
• Mental health disorders: Conditions like depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, and schizophrenia involve significant mood disturbances as primary symptoms.

Coping with mood changes involves identifying their underlying source. Lifestyle changes like regulating sleep, diet, exercise, and stress often help stabilize mood. Support groups, therapy, or medication may be warranted in some cases, especially with diagnosed mental health disorders. Keeping a mood journal, building social support, practicing mindfulness, and avoiding substances also aid mood regulation.

The bottom line is that emotional ups and downs are normal, but extreme or long-lasting mood shifts that disrupt daily life may need professional support. Reach out to Restore Health Clinic if you observe significant changes in mood that concern you. With compassionate support and evidence-based care, most individuals find a greater sense of mental equilibrium.