There are times that you’re suddenly not in the mood for anything or anyone,

Your mind is easily overwhelmed by emotion, that’s rooted in the past instead of the present that cannot see the world with clarity and urgency.

When our mind wanders from goal to goal or be distracted from sense of purpose and proportion.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a group of symptoms that occur in women 1 to 2 weeks before a period. In addition to mood shifts, PMS can cause fatigue, changes in appetite, depression, bloating, and more.

The majority of women experience some PMS-like symptoms before their periods. The severity of these symptoms may change from month to month. They may get worse or improve with age.

It’s unclear why this premenstrual period causes these symptoms. I suspect that shifts in the hormone estrogen are most likely to blame.

In the days and weeks before a period, a woman’s estrogen levels rise and fall dramatically. They level out 1 to 2 days after menstruation begins. These shifts may affect mood and behavior.

It’s natural to have days when you feel sad or overjoyed. Shifts in mood that do not affect your day-to-day life on a regular basis are generally considered typical.

But if you frequently have large shifts in mood, like from intense happiness or euphoria to deep sadness or despair, it could be a sign of something more serious.

Several mental, emotional, and physical health conditions can affect your mood. Substance use, including alcohol and nicotine, can also play a role.

So can prescribed medications, even when used as directed. It’s important to remember that mood changes aren’t always a sign of misuse.

Hormonal Changes

Sex hormones are tied to your emotions, so changes in your hormone levels can lead to mood swings. It’s no surprise that teenagers are often described as “moody.”

Men’s hormones tend to stay pretty stable until age 30, when testosterone begins to gradually decline.

About a third of men age 75 and older have low levels of testosterone. That can cause mood swings, along with erectile dysfunction, sleep problems, and, yes, hot flashes.

Disclaimer: The information on this POST is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional advice. The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. All content, including text, graphics, images and information, contained on or available through this article is for general information purposes / educational purposes only, and to ensure discussion or debate.

Thank you …. We can be happy, sad, joyful, irritable, calm, agitated, energized, tired—the list goes on.

Being moody and having mood swings is part of being human and is primarily driven by how we feel physically and what we are absorbing from our environment.

But what about when mood swings become more frequent, or when we are always irritable?

Our mood is a significant determinant of our quality of life and overall health and wellbeing. When moodiness begins to impact our daily life, it can signal that something is amiss in our bodies and minds. It is essential to learn about what triggers your moodiness and how you can make changes to avoid those triggers.

Chronic stress

Our body’s stress response is vital for our survival. When we experience stress, our sympathetic nervous system, or fight or flight system, gets activated.

When we have physical or psychological stress, our nervous system stimulates our adrenal glands to release epinephrine and norepinephrine. Cortisol, the stress hormone, also releases.

Certain hormones also suppress during a stressful event, including hormones that regulate hunger, reproduction, and mood. After a stressful event passes, your hormones will stabilize within about 60 minutes.

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Chronic stress   is a widespread problem that underpins many health issues that people face. When cortisol levels remain consistently elevated, people can suffer from mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety to physical conditions.

You likely have seen this in yourself: when you get stress out, you become irritable.

My suggestion:

Identify areas of your life that are particularly stressful. Often, everything in our daily life becomes overwhelming because we overbook ourselves and leave ourselves little room to breathe in our day.

Start by cutting out one or two small stressors in your regular activities and replacing that time with some form of self-care such as starting a meditation or mindfulness practice or enjoying a meandering walk outside.

Once you get comfortable eliminating smaller triggers, you can gather momentum to face more significant stressors such as in your work or relationships.

Nutritional deficiencies.

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Our bodies require specific nutrients that can only come from the food that we eat.

When we are deficient in particular vitamins and minerals, our cognitive function can be impaired. Indeed, it becomes harder to remember things, focus, have a positive attitude, and think clearly.

Sometimes, nutritional deficiencies are also the result of other health conditions that may interfere with metabolizing nutrients.

Take a critical look at your diet to identify nutritional deficiencies.

Make sure you are eating real, whole foods throughout the day. Eating food high in sugar and processed foods are unhealthy choices as they contain empty calories and contribute to weight gain, stomach upset, and can worsen irritability.

Incorporate whole foods such as vegetables, nuts, seeds, lean protein, fish, fruits, and leafy greens. Try to make space in your day to plan and prepare your meals to know what is in your food.

Health conditions.

Certain health conditions are known to cause mood swings, including:

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)

Bipolar spectrum disorder

Thyroid conditions

Addiction

Sleep disorders

Diabetes

Any physical disruption to our system can affect our mood, but it is even more prevalent in untreated chronic illnesses.

Managing a chronic health condition is the best thing you can do to prevent moodiness.

For example, if you have a thyroid condition such as hypothyroidism, make sure that you are getting the right dose of your thyroid medication.

When uncontrolled, can include brain fog, depression, fatigue, moodiness, and several other unpleasant symptoms that can impact your quality of life.

Make sure to see a medical provider specializing in comprehensive, holistic care to treat your specific health conditions.

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If you are struggling with your mood, this is an excellent opportunity to check in with your doctor for a complete medical exam and further education on changing hormones and what they might mean for you.

Low blood sugar.

Are you familiar with the word “hangry?”

A not-so-cute combination of being simultaneously hungry and angry.

Skipping meals or eating too little food can make you irritated and short-tempered because your glucose levels are falling too low, which can offset the balance of other hormones.

Our body requires glucose for energy so that our cells can function correctly. Low blood sugarcan be life-threatening, especially in people with diabetes.

Medication:

Certain medications can affect your mood, including:

Hormone replacement therapy and hormonal contraception

Opioids

Corticosteroids

Antibiotics

Cholesterol medications (statins, in particular)

Anticonvulsants

Beta-blockers

Antibiotics

Anticholinergics

Antipsychotics

Medications often work on the same brain receptors that help control your mood.

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