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Top 8 Potential Culprits Behind Your Constant Mood Swings

Everyone has mood swings. If you regularly feel low, you may suspect you have depression. However, there are various different signs of depression that usually last longer than several weeks. These symptoms include a lack of enjoyment from formerly fun activities, a continuous sense of sadness, insomnia, difficulty focusing and making decisions, a decreased appetite, persistent weariness, and being irritable and aggressive.

By Amelia GrantPublished about a year ago 6 min read
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Top 8 Potential Culprits Behind Your Constant Mood Swings

In addition to unexplainable physical discomforts like headaches or backaches, depressed people may also feel guilty or have frequent thoughts of committing suicide or dying. However, it's a good idea to see your doctor to find out what could be triggering those unpleasant symptoms if you are not experiencing those symptoms but are instead always feeling low for no apparent cause. A doctor would want to rule out any other illnesses that could have symptoms similar to depression.

An individual who has mood swings as a result of a medical ailment will show certain abnormalities on testing, such as irregular thyroid hormone levels. Your doctor might perform a psychological evaluation in addition to a physical examination, at which time you may be questioned about your feelings and thoughts. To determine whether what you're going through and feeling is indeed depression, you may also take a test online. But a doctor's appointment shouldn't be substituted by it.

There is a good likelihood that your illness is what brought on your negative mindset. Here are some tips to help you understand the causes and calm your mind:

1. The issues you experience daily

There are several physical factors that might contribute to your persistently negative mood. Experiencing bodily pain or discomfort can make you irritable, much as being unable to sleep, or eating poorly.

To elevate your mood, try eating snacks in between meals, avoiding gadgets before sleep, and increasing your daily fitness.

2. Sedentary lifestyle

A sedentary lifestyle may be the main factor contributing to your mood swings. Even just a little walk can help you feel better and reduce anxiety and sadness. Your body produces more "feel good" hormones like endorphin and dopamine when you exercise.

However, it's advisable to consult with your doctor before beginning any workout program. Taking a walk in your neighborhood park may count as exercise, and being outside, particularly in nature, is good for your well-being.

3. Thyroid problems

The butterfly-shaped gland in your neck begins to generate too much thyroid hormone when you have hyperthyroidism, a disease that is prevalent in women and can have an impact on your health and emotions. It can be the cause of your abrupt mood swings. Your metabolism is influenced by the thyroid hormone in every way.

Additionally, it may make you more tense and agitated and make it harder for you to focus. Hypothyroidism is another prevalent thyroid disorder that may potentially have an impact on your mood. These symptoms frequently cause people to feel down and sad. The emotions hypothyroidism patients go through often depend on how long and how severely the condition has affected them. You're more prone to experience depression or extreme tiredness if your hypothyroidism develops gradually.

4. Chronic pain

Long-term health problems might leave you irritated, particularly if your current treatments aren't working. People who have chronic pain always feel uncomfortable. A side effect of several medications, such as opioid medicines, can be irritating. Another factor contributing to chronic pain sufferers' low moods is how this impacts their everyday lives.

You can explore natural remedies for chronic pain relief if your current course of treatment doesn't appear to be working, including acupuncture, routine exercise, vitamin D supplements, a Mediterranean diet, stretching, cognitive behavioral therapy, and even implementing more turmeric into your diet.

5. A potential mental health condition

Mood shifts are frequently triggered by mental health issues as well. An ongoing negative mood can be a symptom of anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or a potential personality disorder. When someone is angry, they frequently respond to outside stimuli, which causes them to feel guilty or ashamed of themselves.

It's crucial to listen if someone claims to be continuously miserable. You should seek professional mental health assistance if your mood is interfering with your day-to-day activities and your interactions with your family, friends, significant other, or colleagues at work.

6. Vitamin D deficiency

A vital nutrient for excellent health, vitamin D is involved in a variety of bodily functions, including bone growth and brain function. But your mental health also depends on vitamin D. And given how widespread vitamin D insufficiency is, many individuals feel down because they don't get enough of it.

Depression is one of the chronic illnesses that people with long-term vitamin D insufficiency may suffer from. Hence, if you are aware that you are deficient in this vitamin, think about discussing vitamin D supplements with your physician. Increasing your exposure to sunshine and consuming vitamin D-rich foods, including mackerel, sardines, salmon, red meat, egg yolks, liver, and fortified foods are two other methods for getting enough vitamin D.

7. Hormonal fluctuations resulting from PMS

Three out of four women are affected by the insidious condition known as premenstrual syndrome (PMS). It leads to a variety of symptoms that appear a week or two prior to the beginning of a period. Even while PMS symptoms are often minor for most women, some people might have very uncomfortable, debilitating pains and aches.

Many women experience irritability and anger around this time because PMS triggers hormonal fluctuations of progesterone and estrogen. Consider the following tips to lessen your PMS symptoms:

- Get enough sleep. Sleep for around eight hours every night. Lack of sleep has been linked to sadness and nervousness, and it can exacerbate PMS-related mood swings.

- Try exercising more. Regular physical exercise helps alleviate anxiety and improve your mood before your period.

- Use healthy stress-reduction techniques. Take into account things like massage, yoga, or meditation.

- Eat more nutritious meals. You can avoid mood swings and irritation by avoiding meals and beverages that induce a rapid change in your blood sugar.

8. Diabetes and prediabetes

Type 2 diabetes affects a sizable percentage of Americans (almost 10.5%). (more than 20 million people). Abnormal blood sugar fluctuations might affect your mood, making you anxious and irritable. Diabetes' early symptoms, such as excessive urination, dehydration, loss of weight, a continuing increase in appetite, tiredness, diplopia, slow wound healing, tickling sensation in the feet, and recurring urinary tract infections, must be closely monitored because those mood changes are especially prevalent during the disease's onset.

An imbalance in blood glucose levels causes an imbalance in brain neurotransmitters such as serotonin. If you suspect you have prediabetes, you should see your primary care physician ASAP.

The bottom line

Many health problems have an immediate influence on your mood. Hence, if you experience the blues for no obvious reason, you should be mindful of any other symptoms you may be experiencing in addition to changes in mood. It is vital that you get medical assistance to identify what is causing your low mood.

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About the Creator

Amelia Grant

I am journalist, and blogger.

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