Why do women have mood swings, what to do and how to deal with it

Causes

In men, it depends mainly on fluctuations in testosterone secretion. In women, the root cause is more complex.

• Mood swings may be associated with:
• Hormonal imbalance;
• Physical condition;
• Taking certain medications, including birth control;
• Presence of diseases;
• Using alcohol or drugs;
• Stress.

They influence:

• Moon phases;
• Change of weather;
• Seasonal changes (autumn and winter when there is not enough sunlight);
• Lack of sexual relations;
• Environmental, genetic factors, or both.

Research shows that each person has their own mood level. Even with depressive disorders, it is possible to talk about a typical level of depression and restore it to normal with the help of treatment.

Common causes of mood swings in women

Typically, mood swings can be caused by:

• Lack of physical activity;
• Hormonal imbalance (pregnancy, menopause, menstruation);
• Bad habits;
• Taking oral contraceptives;

Photo by Kampus Production: Pexels

• Stress and quarrels;
• Stable high voltage level;
• Lack of normal sex life;
• Breastfeeding period;
• Puberty.

The main reason is hormones. The female body is constantly exposed to challenges. An unstable menstrual cycle, changes during pregnancy and childbirth - this is all the reason for emotional swings.

Also contributing to mood swings is the fact that women have to juggle work, childcare and household chores. Hence the emergence of stress and depression.

Mediators are special substances produced by the human brain. They are responsible for happiness, panic, joy and anger. When the balance of dopamine and serotonin is disturbed, frequent changes in emotional state result.

Hormones and mood

Mood changes during hormonal imbalance are associated with:

• Puberty;
• Pregnancy;
• Menopause;
• The beginning of menstruation.

During adolescence, young people experience psychological and emotional changes. Boys experience this moment in life more difficult. This is because the amount of testosterone produced can increase 18-fold within a few months. The result is hormonal shock.

For girls, this period is more gentle. The level of estrogens, female sex hormones that determine the development of secondary and tertiary female characteristics, increases only 4 times over several years.

Like boys, girls also become nervous and hypersensitive during puberty.

Mood fluctuations before menstruation are accompanied by:

• Increased excitability;
• Irritability;
• Tearfulness;
• Nervousness.

Many women during this period experience a feeling of “pity” and “compassion” for themselves. In medicine, this condition is called premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Occurs in 3 - 8 percent of women. A less severe form is called premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Affects about 30 percent of women.

Hormonal fluctuations begin in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, that is, approximately 7 days before the start of menstruation. Symptoms intensify two days before the onset.

Emotional disturbances during this period of the cycle are physiological and do not require treatment. For severe abdominal pain or headaches, doctors recommend using painkillers.

There are two more important periods in a woman’s life when mood swings are normal. In fact, the lack of this type of response can be cause for concern. These are pregnancy and menopause.

Menopause, which occurs after 40 years, is caused by a decrease in the level of female hormones. Estrogens influence the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter responsible for regulating mood. This is why women during menopause experience alternating sadness, depression, joy, and euphoria.

External signs of mood swings

Photo by RODNAE Productions: Pexels
At any age, women can experience an unstable psycho-emotional background. The official name for this symptom is affective disorder, and its more severe form is bipolar.

Violations can be identified by the following signs:

• Hyperactivity, inability to concentrate;
• Disorderly flow of thoughts;
• Anger and irritation for no reason;
• sudden tears or laughter;

• Increased emotionality;
• Insomnia and other sleep disorders;
• Inappropriate response to what is happening;
• High sensitivity to various events and increased excitability.

Pregnancy and postpartum period

Emotional fluctuations during pregnancy are caused by dynamic and constant changes in hormonal levels.

During the period of bearing a child, all cells of a woman’s body are focused on the development of the fetus.

In addition to the hormonal aspect, mood swings during pregnancy may be associated with:

• Nausea;
• Vomiting;
• Headaches

And so on.

At this time, the woman’s body gets very tired and needs rest, walks or sleep.

Changing a pregnant woman's appearance also affects emotional control.

Mood changes in the 3rd trimester may be associated with:

• With a big belly that was still flat;
• Extra kilos;
• Skin changes (affected by progesterone);
• Hair loss.

Emotions during this period are influenced not only by hormones, but also by the woman’s personal situation. The more desirable the pregnancy, the expectant mother is cared for not only physically, but also mentally, the higher the likelihood of good health.

More than 80% of women suffer from mood swings after childbirth.

Typical symptoms:

• Problems falling asleep;
• Tearfulness;
• Anxiety;
• Feeling helpless;
• Hypochondria and doubts about one's motherhood.

A woman is constantly tormented by the thought of whether she is a good mother, whether she is coping with her responsibilities.

Doctors generally do not recommend pharmacological treatment. In most cases, this condition goes away quite quickly.

After about 2 months, the woman gains more experience in caring for her newborn baby.

It is important that after giving birth the young mother receives a lot of warmth, love and understanding from her relatives. I had time to rest.

How to cheer up

You can get serotonin from food, but not in its pure form. High concentrations of tryptophan are found in bananas, chocolate, figs and dates. This amino acid is the building material from which the body receives the hormone serotonin, which is beneficial for well-being. Interestingly, raising your mood is not directly proportional to the amount eaten, since the process of releasing the hormone is quite complex. You can only hope for an immediate positive result, but it’s better to just stay in shape and eat the right foods regularly.

A more accessible way to increase serotonin levels is to stay in sunlight.

It turns out that a person’s mood really depends on the weather. Bright sunlight quickly drives away depressive thoughts, and the result can be obtained even with artificial lighting. It is enough to add several light sources in the room and your mood will noticeably improve.

The automatic appearance of feelings of guilt or shame occurs with regular slouching. A bent back indicates dissatisfaction and fatigue, so serotonin is produced reluctantly. To improve your mood completely free of charge, all you need to do is control your posture. A straight back will not only help the body produce hormones, but also increase self-esteem.

What else does your mood depend on? Many athletes feel euphoric after training and associate this with their own achievement of certain goals. In fact, any physical activity helps to increase the production of serotonin, and achieving a certain goal provokes an even greater surge of the hormone as a reward to the body. Thus, for a good mood, it is enough to devote at least half an hour a day to physical exercise. If you don’t have time for this, you can simply walk instead of traveling in stuffy public transport. It is important to supplement all this with good sleep, since it is when the brain is resting that the greatest production of “happiness hormones” occurs during the day.

Listening to your favorite music, doing what you love and other pleasant moments in life only improve your well-being. It is important to remember that the production of serotonin accelerates in direct proportion to the presence of a good mood, therefore, to improve your mood in the future, you need to have a positive attitude towards everything in the present.

Mental illness

Frequent mood swings may indicate mental illness. These are serious diseases that should not be underestimated. You can't cope on your own. This requires the help of a qualified psychiatrist.

The reasons for such changes may be:

• Hyperactivity syndrome;
• Depression;
• Bipolar disorder;
• Personality disorder.

Hyperactivity syndrome is characterized by:

• Hyperactivity;
• Impulsiveness;
• Frequent changes in mood.

Such people act first, then think about the consequences of their actions. They cannot control their behavior, emotions, reactions.

Depression is often understood as a temporary deterioration in mood. In fact, it is a disease that causes pathological mood swings.

Bipolar disorder (cyclophrenia) is the most severe form of depression. Doctors call this condition manic-depressive psychosis. Difficult to diagnose. Patients tend to engage in dangerous behavior.

Borderline personality disorder is characterized by frequent mood swings. The feeling of love quickly changes to hatred. Aggression, fits of anger, severe fear, and behavior that is difficult to control appear. This makes it difficult for them to establish close relationships.

Causes not related to hormones

Although mood variability is common among women, it is not always related to hormones.

Some medications may cause temporary mood swings, such as hormone replacement therapy, medications for epilepsy, and others. In this case, you need to consult a doctor to adjust the treatment of the underlying disease.

People who often experience stress may feel like no one understands them, no one sympathizes with them, and everyone has turned away.

Alcohol affects the central nervous system, causing changes in mood, thinking and behavior. Immediately after consumption it causes relaxation, a feeling of euphoria, and excitement. This is due to the suppression of control mechanisms. Then comes fatigue, drowsiness, irritation and even aggression. Drugs act similarly.

Advice from psychologists

You can significantly improve your mood for the next few hours simply by exercising. Physical activity helps not only the production of serotonin, but also endorphins. Psychologists assure that any activity related to the pleasure of achieving a goal helps to stabilize good health. That is why they advise having a favorite hobby, the positive emotions from which will regularly raise the level of “happiness hormones” in the body. In reality, our mood does not depend on the weather, but on how we relate to it. The same goes for music, surrounding people, events and everything else. To be happy, you just need to learn to enjoy the little things, and not strive for unattainable heights.

Also, the best cures for all diseases are laughter and sex, only separately. Watching your favorite comedies will definitely increase your endorphin levels, and being close to your loved one will have a positive effect not only on your mood, but also on your health.

Thyroid diseases

Thyroid disease and mood swings are an explosive mixture. A decrease or increase in thyroid hormone levels can cause sudden changes.

In addition, patients often experience:

• Chronic fatigue;
• Poor concentration;
• Decreased libido;
• Drowsiness.

Unfortunately, such changes in emotions cannot be controlled on your own. Constant monitoring by an endocrinologist and appropriate treatment are required.