Mood changes - Hormone Health Center

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 sadness or anger. Mood changes can occur suddenly or gradually over time.

There are several factors that can contribute to mood swings:

• Hormonal fluctuations: Changes in hormone levels during menstruation, pregnancy, perimenopause, or andropause can trigger mood changes. Estrogen and progesterone levels strongly influence mood.
• Stress: High stress can alter brain chemistry and cause mood changes. Both acute stress from a specific event and chronic stress buildup can destabilize mood.
• Sleep disturbances: Lack of quality sleep prevents the brain from properly regulating mood. Both too little sleep and poor sleep quality impact mood stability.
• Medications: Certain prescription drugs and over-the-counter medicines can provoke mood swings as a side effect. This includes corticosteroids, antihypertensive drugs, pain medications, and some cold medicines.
• Drug/alcohol abuse: Substance abuse and withdrawal symptoms often induce extreme mood instability by altering neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine.
• Medical conditions: Thyroid issues, diabetes, stroke, chronic pain, and neurological conditions can contribute to rapid mood changes through their impact on emotions and stress levels.
• Diet: Blood sugar imbalances from heavy carb intake, low protein diets, nutritional deficiencies, dehydration, and hunger can destabilize mood by altering brain chemistry.
• Sunlight exposure: Lack of sunlight disrupts circadian rhythms and melatonin/serotonin production, potentially worsening mood issues like seasonal affective disorder.

To regulate mood swings, maintaining healthy lifestyle habits is key - like sufficient sleep, a nutrient-dense diet, regular exercise, stress management techniques, sunlight exposure, limiting alcohol intake, and proper medication use. Tracking mood changes in a journal can also help identify triggers to address. If mood fluctuations persist and significantly impact daily functioning, seeing a doctor or mental health professional is advisable. Proper diagnosis and treatment can help minimize the frequency and intensity of destabilizing mood changes.

Let me know if you have any other questions!