Ladies, if you've ever felt angry, sad, or frustrated that only lasted a short time before you felt joy and happiness, then you have experienced a mood swing. This sudden and dramatic change in emotions seems to happen for no reason.
Several things are responsible for the mood changes that occurred. Do not let the mood changes that occurred disturb our daily lives. Therefore, below are some of the causes of mood swings in women and how to handle them.
What causes mood swings?
There are some conditions and lifestyles that could cause women to experience drastic mood swings, such as:
- Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
PMS is a collection of symptoms that occur 1-2 weeks before menstruation. In addition to causing mood swings, PMS usually happens with feelings of fatigue, changes in appetite, depression, bloating, and others. Researchers believe that fluctuations in estrogen levels during this time are the cause of the symptoms that occurred.
- Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)
PMDD is a more severe and less common form of PMS. It is estimated that PMDD affects only 5% of women. The symptoms found in PMDD are similar to PMS but to a more severe degree.
- Stress
Stress and anxiety could have a negative impact not only on mental health but also on physical health. One of the most impactful aspects is our mood. Persistent frustration, anxiety, and stress can cause severe mood swings, along with other psychological problems.
- Puberty
Puberty is a period in which major changes occurred in a child's emotions, both physically and psychologically. Changes in mood and emotions for no reason are common in this stage.
- Pregnancy
Changes in hormone levels in the body during pregnancy can lead to changes in emotions and moods. In addition, women who are pregnant also experience physical changes and gain emotional burdens, so mood and emotional changes can become more severe.
- Menopause
Another major change in a woman's life is menopause. Menopause or the cessation of the menstrual cycle due to age is also often associated with periods of changes in a person's mood. Along with a drastic decrease in estrogen hormones, women will experience many symptoms such as mood swings, insomnia, and decreased sex drive.
How to deal with mood swings?
Prevention of mood swings can be done by increasing the fitness and health of the body, along with efforts to stabilize mood. The following are ways to prevent mood swings that aim to improve your lifestyle:
- Exercise regularly. Doing sports can stimulate the body to produce endorphins that can relieve stress and improve mood.
- Avoid excessive consumption of caffeine, alcohol, and sugar as these could worsen the mood swings that occur.
- Add calcium supplements as an additional intake option. Calcium can help to relieve symptoms of depression, anxiety, and emotional swings that occur as a result of PMS.
- Adopt a high-frequency diet, but eat small portions. Elevated levels of sugar in the body after eating large portions could cause emotions and mood changes.
- Get enough sleep.
Mood swings are normal. However, finding healthy ways to cope could reduce the risk of mood swings in the future. Do not hesitate to contact professional medical help if you feel that the mood swings are already severe and interfering with daily life.
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Source:
Holland, K. & Ernst, H. (2019). What Causes Extreme Mood Shifts in Women? Healthline. [online]. https://www.healthline.com/health/mood-swings-in-women