Mood Swings

Table of Contents

  • What Are Mood Swings?

  • Causes and Risk Factors

  • Related Conditions

  • Symptoms and Assessment

  • Treatment Options

  • Telehealth for Mood Swings

  • Living Well with Mood Swings

  • References

What Are Mood Swings?

Mood swings are rapid or intense changes in emotional state, where a person can shift from feeling happy or calm to sad, irritable, or angry within a short period of time. While mild fluctuations are common in everyday life, severe or unpredictable mood swings may signal an underlying health condition or mental health disorder. Understanding triggers and recognizing patterns is important for managing emotional ups and downs.

Causes and Risk Factors

Mood swings can happen for many reasons, including:

  • Stress, major life changes, or sleep deprivation

  • Hormonal changes (puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, menopause

  • Poor nutrition or missed meals

  • Medication side effects

  • Substance use, including alcohol or drugs

  • Medical conditions affecting the brain or hormones

While occasional mood changes are normal, frequent or disruptive mood swings often require further evaluation.

Related Conditions

Certain mental health or physical conditions are commonly linked to mood swings, such as:

  • Bipolar Disorder: Periods of extreme emotional highs and lows

  • Depression: Persistent sadness with episodes of low mood

  • Cyclothymia: Chronic mood instability, milder than bipolar disorder

  • Borderline Personality Disorder: Intense and variable emotional reactions

  • PTSD and Seasonal Affective Disorder: Can involve erratic or reactive emotional patterns

Some neurological or endocrine disorders, like thyroid problems, Cushing's disease, or brain injuries, may also cause mood instability.

Symptoms and Assessment

Key indicators of mood swings include:

  • Rapid shifts in emotion (e.g., happy to sad or angry)

  • Difficulty concentrating

  • Irritability, impatience, or impulsiveness

  • Changes in appetite, sleep, or energy

  • Mixed or overlapping symptoms (depression, anxiety, anger)

  • Trouble identifying specific triggers

Assessment usually involves tracking mood changes, medical evaluation, and discussion with a healthcare professional to rule out other causes.

Treatment Options

Managing mood swings may involve:

  • Lifestyle changes: Better sleep, nutrition, exercise, and stress reduction

  • Psychotherapy: Cognitive-behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, or counseling

  • Medication: Mood stabilizers, antidepressants, or other appropriate treatments for underlying conditions

  • Education and support: Learning coping strategies and accessing support networks

The right approach depends on what’s causing the mood swings and any related diagnosis.

Telehealth for Mood Swings

Telehealth makes mental health care for mood swings more accessible, offering confidential video visits, online counseling, and education resources from home. This is especially helpful for ongoing therapy, medication management, progress tracking, and connecting with professionals regardless of location or mobility.

Living Well with Mood Swings

Tracking patterns, building healthy routines, and seeking early intervention empower people to manage mood swings. Education, support groups, and family involvement improve quality of life. If mood swings persist or interfere with daily activities, professional help is recommended.

If you or a loved one suffer with mood swings and would like to explore treatment options, you may schedule in with our clinicans below:

Schedule Now

If you find the person you were looking to schedule with is no longer accepting patients, feel free to contact us at 734-707-1052, Monday-Friday from 9am-6pm, and we will see if we can find any openings for you with another similar provider.

References

Medical News Today. (2020, June 28). Mood swings: What are they? Causes in males and females, and more. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/mood-swingsmedicalnewstoday

Cleveland Clinic. (2025, January 23). Mood Swings: What They Are & Causes. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/mood-swingsclevelandclinic

Mayo Clinic. (2024, January 30). Mood disorders - Symptoms and causes. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mood-disorders/symptoms-causes/syc-20365057mayoclinic

Verywell Mind. (2010, November 29). Mood Swings: Causes, Risk Factors, and Ways to Cope. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-are-mood-swings-1067178verywellmind

Health. (2025). Mood Swings: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment.https://www.health.com/mood-swings-8610890health