The “mood swing” phenomenon is commonly used to describe rapidly and intensely fluctuating emotions.
But its also not uncommon for mood swings to occur without an obvious cause.
People may even experience changes in mood if they have an underlying mental health issue.
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At a Glance
Mood swings happen to everyone for a variety of reasons.
Sometimes they have no obvious cause, while in other cases they are tied to specific situational factors.
Understanding the factors that are related to your mood swings can help you better identify the potential causes.
Knowing what is causing your mood swings is the key to figuring out how to deal with them effectively.
As kids get older, mood swings continue to be a normal part of their development.
By the time they enter the preteen years, fluctuations in mood are primarily driven by hormonal changes.
These shifts in mood tend to peak during adolescence and gradually stabilize by young adulthood.
Medications
Starting or stopping a prescription medication can affect a persons mood.
For example, a person who has bipolar disordermay be misdiagnosedwith depression and prescribed medication.
Hormones
Other possible causes of mood swings may stem from changes in hormone levels, particularly estrogen.
Depression
Mood swings are also common with depression, especially if it is untreated.
Bipolar Disorder
Mood swings are a hallmark symptom of bipolar disorder.
There are two main types of bipolar disorder: bipolar I and bipolar II.
Both are characterized by periods of mania orhypomaniathat alternate with depression.
Some people experience both sets of symptoms at the same time, which is known asmixed episodes.
If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
Medications used to treat bipolar disorder may help manage these intense shifts.
However, the biggest contributors to mood swings include diet, sleep, and substance abuse.
Here’s a closer look at how these risk factors can increase the likelihood of mood swings.
These conditions also have been linked to specific mental health conditions, such as depression.
Sleep
A persons mood also can be heavily influenced by the amount and quality ofsleepthey get.
They also may experience mood swings when they are trying to quit a drug and experiencing withdrawal.
When misused, medications known to cause mood changes can have especially severe effects.
Start by paying attention to changes in your mood.
They can evaluate your symptoms, rule out medical causes, and make recommendations that can help.
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