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Svetlana Pavlikhina
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A woman's mood is a factor that depends on many reasons. According to statistics, every representative of the fair sex at least once in her life has encountered a sharp transition from joy to sadness and sadness and vice versa.
There is a common belief that it is impossible to prevent and control mood swings in women, since it is a specific character trait.
What is a mood swing
This term refers to multiple changes in mood over a short period of time. The main characteristic of behavior is a sharp, unpredictable change in psycho-emotional state: a female person can be having fun in the company of loved ones, when suddenly she begins to get angry, show aggression or cry.
Frequent mood swings in girls sometimes occur for no apparent reason. But psychologists assure that the original source of the disease exists in any case and it must be identified.
Main reasons
Scientists cannot specifically answer what causes sudden mood swings in women. It is believed that affective disorders manifest themselves due to the negative impact of physiological and psychological factors.
The first include:
- Disruption of the endocrine system. Hypothyroidism results in abnormal hormone production. Increased or decreased levels of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone directly affect the emotional state.
- Menopause period. Menopause is accompanied by multiple changes and restructuring in a woman’s body. Hormonal fluctuations during menopause make your mood changeable .
- Lack of physical activity. If a person works from home and rarely leaves the apartment, they “drop out” from life, which has a negative impact on the psyche.
- Seasonal variations. Lack of sunlight during the winter months often leads to depression and disorders.
- Puberty period. It is accompanied by increased production of hormones, which is why girls can be aggressive, angry or whiny, depending on their individual characteristics.
- Carrying a child. During pregnancy, there are surges in the production of serotonin and dopamine, which affect mood.
- Long-term use of hormonal or antibacterial medications. Mood changes may occur during the use of oral contraceptives.
- Use of psychotropic and psychotic drugs. Drugs (even medical ones) negatively affect the chemical processes occurring in the brain;
- Alcohol and smoking abuse.
- The presence of chronic pathologies, cardiovascular diseases, meningitis, AIDS.
Unstable emotions can also be triggered by the following reasons:
- Constant stress and nervous experiences. Difficulties at work, instability in personal relationships, misunderstandings with relatives lead to constant nervous exhaustion, which provokes emotional breakdowns.
- Bipolar disorders. A pathological condition in which depression is replaced by activity, curiosity and energy.
- Lack of regular sex life.
- Dissatisfaction with one's own appearance.
In order to choose the right tactics and determine how to deal with an unstable emotional state in women, it is necessary to determine the original source of the disorder. Diagnostics may include consultation with a psychologist, instrumental examination for the presence of various diseases and malfunctions.
Mood hormones in men
For the male body, significant factors in the stability of the emotional background are serotonin, dopamine, cortisol, and testosterone. The latter hormone has the greatest effect on mood. The more of it in the body, the more confident a man feels, he is able to achieve success, solve difficult situations, and defeat competitors. With a lack of testosterone, erection and sexual desire decrease, and feminine traits also appear in the character.
When the level of the hormone is high, the body becomes dependent on its concentration, therefore, after its age-related decrease or cessation of sports training, depressive disorders often occur. Increases testosterone by exercising, sex, eating meat, quitting smoking and alcohol.
We recommend reading the article about hormones during menstruation. From it you will learn what hormones are produced during menstruation, blood tests for hormones during menstruation, rules for preparing for blood tests and which ones should not be taken during menstruation.
And here is more information about hormones after childbirth.
Hormones are responsible for a person’s mood and general well-being. With sufficient levels of serotonin, endorphins and dopamine, joy and a surge of strength arise. When they decrease, depression and irritability are often noted. The role of thyroid and adrenal hormones in mood swings has been established.
Increases and decreases in their function have an adverse effect. Important factors for women include estrogens, progesterone, and after childbirth - oxytocin and prolactin. Testosterone influences men's mood and self-confidence.
Symptoms
The condition is very similar to the natural emotional reaction that occurs during crises, nervous breakdowns and constant failures. At such moments, a woman may suffer not only from emotional depression, but also from physical ailment.
Doctors and psychologists assure that mood swings are unpredictable and can appear under inappropriate conditions. There are not so many signs of a violation, but it is impossible not to notice them:
- An instant change of mood that has no basis.
- Appetite disorders. A girl may refuse her favorite dishes and indulge in foods that she has never eaten before.
- Sleep disturbance.
- Feeling of chronic fatigue and weakness.
- Sadness for no reason.
- Feeling of worthlessness.
- Nervousness.
If such symptoms do not go away for more than 30 days, it is recommended to seek help from a specialist. In the absence of timely treatment, the pathology will begin to progress, and it will be more difficult to get rid of it.
Associated symptoms
The list of manifestations characteristic of unstable mood is presented:
- Aggression.
- Touchiness.
- Anger.
- Sadness.
- We're crying.
- Joy.
- With fur.
- Closedness.
- Panic.
- Absent-mindedness.
- Anxiety.
- Irritability.
- Apathy.
- Fussiness.
- Hyperactivity.
- Hysteria.
- Fear.
- Dejection.
- Depression (one of the most common forms).
- Depressed.
- Feelings of guilt.
- Disorderly thinking.
- Sleep disorders.
- Lack of motivation for productive activities.
The result is a decrease in quality of life.
Sudden mood changes
What to do and how to learn to control this condition? Doctors assure: in order to cope with a lesion, the first thing you need to do is make a correct diagnosis and establish the original source of the disease, only after that you can begin to take active action.
Emotional instability during pregnancy
Numerous clinical studies have confirmed that during pregnancy the body adapts to a different mode of operation and directs its forces to preserve the life of the fetus.
Carrying a child affects the psychological and physical levels of life. Adjusting to a new way can be difficult, and mood swings act as a response to stress.
How to deal with such deviations in the early stages of pregnancy and in the last weeks? The main task of the expectant mother is to understand that continuous mood changes are natural and associated with various hormonal changes.
The disease can be caused by the following factors:
- increased fatigue (increased physical activity);
- toxicosis;
- sleep problems;
- anxiety.
Such conditions are considered natural; more than 80% of pregnant women experience them.
To get rid of pathology, experts advise adhering to the following rules:
- It is necessary to fully rest during the day. If possible, you can go on maternity leave in the early stages of pregnancy, spend more time outdoors, do your favorite things, and meet interesting people.
- It is important to maintain a sense of humor.
- It is useful to go swimming and yoga. These relaxation techniques will not only help you maintain your figure, but are also guaranteed to improve your mood.
- It is strictly forbidden to keep negative emotions inside; they need to be given an outlet.
- It is important to remind yourself that the psychological state of the baby depends on the mother’s condition. If you are constantly nervous, the child will be capricious and emotionally unstable.
Mood changes during menstruation
During PMS, most females, regardless of age, experience psychological instability. This reaction is caused by increased production of progesterone and estrogen .
A lack of calcium can have a negative impact on the emotional sphere, as the substance begins to quickly be washed out along with the blood. Most doctors are of the opinion that there is no need to deal with the condition during menstruation, since it is natural and short-lived.
But if a woman cannot control her emotions, she can take sedatives (after consulting a doctor).
Condition during menopause
It is caused by instability and changes in hormonal levels. Depression during menopause can last up to several years. Stopping and reducing their manifestation naturally is extremely problematic.
The best option is to consult a gynecologist who will prescribe sedatives and drugs to regulate hormonal levels. Changing your diet and exercising will also help improve the situation.
Physiological cycle of a woman
It is quite difficult to argue with nature, no matter how much you would like to. A woman’s physiological, or menstrual, cycle affects her life, including mood changes. The scientific term “premenstrual syndrome,” or simply PMS, in real life manifests itself as increased irritability, nervousness, tearfulness, and constant emotional swings. That is why a woman who is about to menstruate can be seen with the naked eye - a kind of vixen for whom everything is wrong and everything is wrong. Of course, this is an exaggerated image, each representative of the fair sex experiences PMS in its own way, each knows how to restrain or, conversely, release their emotions differently, but still the general principle of the action of this factor is clear.
Why is this happening? If you look at it from a physiological point of view, PMS is a consequence of hormonal changes in the body. The egg is not fertilized, it dies and leaves the body during menstruation. Experts say that before the onset of menstruation, a woman’s body does not have enough strength to maintain emotional balance.
If you look from the point of view of subtle matters, then everything here can also be easily explained. The onset of menstruation means that conception did not occur in this cycle. The egg that could have become a child died. And it doesn’t matter at all whether you want children at the moment or not. The subconscious natural desire to become a mother still manifests itself, at least in the form of PMS.
This theory is confirmed by the fact that during ovulation a woman becomes prettier, her desire to take care of herself and look beautiful and elegant increases. A woman’s sexual energy, charm and attractiveness increases. Probably, many of us have noticed that during the ovulation period we want to fly with happiness, and, in contrast to this state, before and during menstruation there is complete apathy and depression. Perhaps this is what wise nature intended?
How to learn to control yourself
It has been proven that it is difficult to control this condition on your own. This is due to the fact that the fluctuations are irrational and the woman cannot explain what caused them. How to cope with this condition?
The best option is to seek help from a specialist who will tell you what to do in a particular case.
General recommendations
To reduce the specific reaction of the body caused by hormonal imbalances, certain rules must be followed:
- If a woman notices that her emotional background changes while performing any actions, she urgently needs to stop doing them.
- If you anticipate an imminent change in mood, it is recommended to remain alone with yourself. This will help not spoil the mood of your loved ones; also, being alone, such a state is easier to bear.
- It is necessary to try to artificially improve emotions and think only about the positive.
- It is necessary to give up harmful foods; they disrupt many metabolic processes and saturate the body with carcinogens and toxins.
- It is necessary to take regular walks in the fresh air.
Drug treatment
Whatever the cause of mental instability, the fight against the disease must be comprehensive. The patient needs to visit a psychologist and take prescribed medications.
In most cases, the following remedies are prescribed:
- Tricyclic antidepressants. The most well-known medications in this pharmaceutical category are Imipramine and Amitriptyline.
- Medicines that regulate the activity of the vascular system.
- Homeopathic remedies based on medicinal plants and vitamin complexes.
It must be remembered that you cannot prescribe medications yourself, as there is a risk of worsening the situation.
