Today started greatly. I woke up early enough to get myself to the gym. I had a nice time there too and headed to work pretty much satisfied with my accomplishments so far. Few hours later, I wasn't so happy with myself.
I started giving one word replies to other people and refused to laugh at jokes that were flying around. I even ignored someone just because of my mood. I was having a Mood Swing!
Took me hours to get myself back and by then so much time had been lost. I decided to look it up and here's what I found.
Mood Swing? What's that?
A mood swing is an extreme or rapid change in mood.
It could be a positive or negative change but it's mostly negative. They can happen at any time and in any place; even at your birthday party. Silly thing!
Mood swings can last for few minutes, hours or last for days. Medics have said that when four continuous days of hypomania, or seven days of mania occurs, bipolar disorder diagnosis is justified.
Why do Mood Swings even occur?
It's common to hear people attribute mood swings in women to our hormones. While that might be true in some cases like [PMS](premenstrual syndrome), mood swings is not solely based on hormones. Other things could be responsible:
- Bipolar disorder
- Depression
- Disease that interfer with the nervous system function
- Drugs and Alcohol
- Lack of sleep
- Depression
- Stress and Anxiety
and let's not forget.... - Hunger.
I will attribute my morning experience to lack of sleep. I know I have deprived myself of required amount for a while now.
How to deal with it:
- For Bipolar disorder and Depression, therapy might do the trick.
- Get enough sleep: This point should be dedicated to me.
- Limit Alcohol and Caffeine
- Get enough exercise
- Drink water and Keep a balanced diet
- Get a hobby.
- Control stress.
What if its already happening?
Try to cool off: Take a walk or leave a place if people are around you, count to ten, listen to songs, read a book. Do whatever you can to relax.
Its ok to Cry: Funny right? Well, shedding tears have some health benefits; you can release hormones and toxins that are built up during stress when you cry.
Writing is therapeutic. Write down how you feel. Some weights will be off your shoulders when youre done.
Try not to take it on someone else: Just like I ignored someone today, you can hurt people if you don't control yourself when having a mood swing. That's why its better to just take a walk.
Talk to someone: Okay, I get it. This is probably the time you want to be left alone but you know how the saying goes
problems shared are half solved.
The "5minutes later you" will thank the "mood swing you" for doing that.
Next time you having a mood swing, do better than I did today.