It is now known that many mood related changes occur fairly commonly amongst everyone.
Even mood related mania as well as depression affects us regularly at some time or other. In between these episodes though, most of those who suffer from mood swings are fairly free of any kind of symptoms, however about a third of those who suffer from mood swings will still exhibit some symptoms while a very small percentage will carry on having these mood swings despite therapy and treatment.
The main causes of mood swings are supposed to be a chemical imbalance in the brain and hormonal changes, which apparently affect women more than men, according to recent medical studies.
Effects of Chemical Imbalance
Almost all modern studies have shown that just as the body reacts to chemical imbalances and needs to be treated, the brain too can suffer from chemical imbalances.
Mood swings are one just effect of chemical imbalance in the brain. All the emotions and feelings that we experience - like joy or sorrow, fear or stress, anxiety or depression - are a direct result of the actions of certain chemicals called neurotransmitters, which are released in the brain.
The amount of neurotransmitters that are released, the extent and the rapidity with which they are absorbed, determines how the person feels. Among the well known neurotransmitters, chemicals, which can have an effect on the way people feel, are serotonin, GABA and norepenephrine amongst others.
Most medications and therapies aimed at helping mood swings try to re-establish the chemical balance as also help with the proper release and re-absorption of these chemicals in the brain.
Effects of Hormonal Changes:
Women and teenagers go through many hormonal changes. Women usually go through hormonal changes at the time of their menstrual cycles, at the time of pregnancy, post-partum and at menopause. These hormonal changes trigger mood swings in most of them. Similarly, teenagers also go through plenty of mood swings at the time of puberty when there is an increase of sex hormones in the body.
In most cases, the mood swings go away once the hormone levels return back to normal.
Extreme forms of mood swings are normally associated with episodes of depression or mania.
Here are some of the common symptoms of depression and mania:
Symptoms of Depression
Continuously sad, feeling of emptiness and anxiety
No interest or joy in common activities
No interest or joy in sexual activities
Tremendous irritability and excessive restlessness
Excessive crying
Overpowering feelings of incompetence, worthlessness and helplessness
Too much hopelessness and pessimism
Extreme sleeping patterns - sleeping too much or sleeping too little
Not being able to sleep at all - insomnia
Obvious loss of appetite leading to noticeable weight loss
Else, overeating leading to noticeable weight gain
Decreased energy levels, constant feeling of tiredness and fatigue
At times, thinking even of suicide
Great difficulty in concentrating
Frequent forgetfulness or having trouble remembering
Continuing symptoms which do not seem to respond to treatment like digestive ailments and headaches
Symptoms of Mania
An extremely elevated mood
Irritability
Being able to manage with very little sleep
Talking too much
Having grand notions or grand ideas for the future
Increased physical and sexual activity
Displaying poor judgment
Displaying inappropriate social behaviour
Even if a person suffers from mood swings and in some cases, experience episodes of mania or depression, most of the time, these problems can be treated. Without treatment though, these mood disorders generally tend to only worsen leading to more frequent occurrences and more severe manic and depressive behaviours can result.
It is therefore imperative that as soon as mood swings start affecting someone they take proper treatment with the help of which they can resume their normal course of life. - 16004
Even mood related mania as well as depression affects us regularly at some time or other. In between these episodes though, most of those who suffer from mood swings are fairly free of any kind of symptoms, however about a third of those who suffer from mood swings will still exhibit some symptoms while a very small percentage will carry on having these mood swings despite therapy and treatment.
The main causes of mood swings are supposed to be a chemical imbalance in the brain and hormonal changes, which apparently affect women more than men, according to recent medical studies.
Effects of Chemical Imbalance
Almost all modern studies have shown that just as the body reacts to chemical imbalances and needs to be treated, the brain too can suffer from chemical imbalances.
Mood swings are one just effect of chemical imbalance in the brain. All the emotions and feelings that we experience - like joy or sorrow, fear or stress, anxiety or depression - are a direct result of the actions of certain chemicals called neurotransmitters, which are released in the brain.
The amount of neurotransmitters that are released, the extent and the rapidity with which they are absorbed, determines how the person feels. Among the well known neurotransmitters, chemicals, which can have an effect on the way people feel, are serotonin, GABA and norepenephrine amongst others.
Most medications and therapies aimed at helping mood swings try to re-establish the chemical balance as also help with the proper release and re-absorption of these chemicals in the brain.
Effects of Hormonal Changes:
Women and teenagers go through many hormonal changes. Women usually go through hormonal changes at the time of their menstrual cycles, at the time of pregnancy, post-partum and at menopause. These hormonal changes trigger mood swings in most of them. Similarly, teenagers also go through plenty of mood swings at the time of puberty when there is an increase of sex hormones in the body.
In most cases, the mood swings go away once the hormone levels return back to normal.
Extreme forms of mood swings are normally associated with episodes of depression or mania.
Here are some of the common symptoms of depression and mania:
Symptoms of Depression
Continuously sad, feeling of emptiness and anxiety
No interest or joy in common activities
No interest or joy in sexual activities
Tremendous irritability and excessive restlessness
Excessive crying
Overpowering feelings of incompetence, worthlessness and helplessness
Too much hopelessness and pessimism
Extreme sleeping patterns - sleeping too much or sleeping too little
Not being able to sleep at all - insomnia
Obvious loss of appetite leading to noticeable weight loss
Else, overeating leading to noticeable weight gain
Decreased energy levels, constant feeling of tiredness and fatigue
At times, thinking even of suicide
Great difficulty in concentrating
Frequent forgetfulness or having trouble remembering
Continuing symptoms which do not seem to respond to treatment like digestive ailments and headaches
Symptoms of Mania
An extremely elevated mood
Irritability
Being able to manage with very little sleep
Talking too much
Having grand notions or grand ideas for the future
Increased physical and sexual activity
Displaying poor judgment
Displaying inappropriate social behaviour
Even if a person suffers from mood swings and in some cases, experience episodes of mania or depression, most of the time, these problems can be treated. Without treatment though, these mood disorders generally tend to only worsen leading to more frequent occurrences and more severe manic and depressive behaviours can result.
It is therefore imperative that as soon as mood swings start affecting someone they take proper treatment with the help of which they can resume their normal course of life. - 16004
About the Author:
Dr. Arturo Ovies is a Health Professional who has lived with Depression and Bipolar Disorder since childhood. Over the past five years he has dedicated his entire attention to the research and teaching of how these debilitating mental illnesses can be for the patients themselves and their families. He has developed an easy to read and follow guide to Depression Recovery on his website.
