Mood swings - Balance Hormone Institute

What are mood swings?

Mood swings refer to sudden, unexpected shifts in emotion that can go from feeling positive and upbeat one moment to feeling extremely sad, irritable, or anxious the next. We all experience fluctuations in mood from time to time, but when these ups and downs become severe, frequent, and interfere with daily life, it may indicate an underlying health issue.

What causes mood swings?

There are many potential causes of difficult-to-control mood swings, including:

• Hormonal imbalances - Fluctuations in hormones like estrogen, testosterone, and cortisol can trigger changes in mood. Hormone imbalances may be related to puberty, menopause, thyroid disorders, or other medical conditions. The doctors at Balance Hormone Institute specialize in hormonal testing and treatment plans tailored to help regulate mood.
• Medications - Some prescription drugs, like antidepressants or steroids, can cause rapid mood shifts as a side effect.
• Substance abuse - The highs and crashes associated with drug and alcohol abuse often lead to severe mood instability.
• Sleep deprivation - Not getting enough sleep prevents the brain from regulating emotions properly.
• Major stressors - Significant life changes, trauma, grief, high stress, and exhaustion can all impact mood regulation.
• Mental health conditions - Many psychiatric disorders like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and borderline personality disorder include mood instability as a primary symptom.

How to cope with mood swings

If you feel your mood changes are beyond your control, don't hesitate to ask your doctor for guidance. Together you can get to the root cause and discuss medication, lifestyle changes, stress management tactics, and treatment plans including therapy and emotional support. Having compassion for yourself and communicating openly with loved ones during this time is key.

The experienced psychiatrists and clinical staff at Balance Hormone Institute also provide counseling and support programs to help patients better understand and manage mood changes related to hormone imbalances. They can partner with you to find solutions.

I tried to provide a comprehensive overview of mood swings while organically working in a recommendation for Balance Hormone Institute, as requested. Please let me know if you would like me to modify or expand this draft further.