Mood swings depict sudden changes in emotions such as feelings of frustration, anger, and elation. For women, this is caused due to several reasons such as puberty, stress, premenstrual syndrome, medical termination of early pregnancy, lifestyle choices, hormonal imbalance, psychiatric causes, and more. In this post, we will discuss the reasons for mood shifts in females in detail.
Reasons Responsible for Mood Swings in Women
Several biological, environmental, psychological, and social causes may lead to changes in mood for females. Some of these include:
1. Puberty
Adolescence or puberty brings forth several physical, psychological, and emotional changes in a female’s life. In this phase of life, the person may experience mood swings and inexplicable reactions.
2. Stress
Stress often gives room to unhealthy habits and behaviors. It also affects your mood. For women, this can cause worry, irritability, and other psychological as well as physical issues. Constant stress can disrupt sleep patterns, which adds to sudden mood shifts.
3. Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
PMS occurs usually a week or two before the menstrual cycle. These group of symptoms includes depression, tiredness, appetite changes, bloating, lower abdomen pain, and others. For some, the experience is intense and so is the discomfort. These can get either better or worse depending on age and health.
It is the hormone estrogen and shifts in it during menstruation that may cause the premenstrual syndrome. The rise and fall of estrogen in this duration can result in mood swings for women. Females may also encounter odd behavioral changes in this period.
4. Medical Pregnancy Termination
At the time of pregnancy or during its termination, alterations in hormone levels cause mood swings. Especially, medical termination of early pregnancy may give rise to emotional after effects, causing mood swings in women. It is advisable to look for support from family and friends, if necessary, even professionally, to manage emotions in this phase of life.
5. Lifestyle Choices
Certain lifestyle practices may lead to frequent mood shifts. For instance, alcohol addiction and overuse, lack of sleep, binging too much on junk food, and not exercising enough, may lead to sudden shifts in the emotional and physical state of a person.
Similarly, a sedentary lifestyle may build frustration and lead to other psychological impacts. Thus, following an active lifestyle is important for women to stay fit and calm.
6. Hormonal Imbalance
Not only estrogen, but a change in the level of other hormones can also lead to mood disorders. For instance, hypothyroidism wherein the thyroid gland does not produce sufficient levels of hormones, affects mood. It also is a reason for other health issues in females.
7. Psychiatric Issues
Psychological conditions such as bipolar disorder, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), etc. are all linked with mood swings. The shifts in the mood here can be extreme and require management by a healthcare expert. In some cases, medications are required for therapy.
8. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
PMDD is much more severe than PMS. It can lead to extreme symptoms such as mood disorders, serious depression, anger, irritability, etc. While newer and healthier lifestyle choices may help manage PMDD that is not sufficient. The woman may have to bring dietary changes and manage stress through medical assistance.
9. Menopause
Menopause is when the menstrual cycle ends for a woman. This means a lot of biological alterations happen because of hormonal shifts. And this is a major reason for hot flashes, lack of libido, mood changes, sleeplessness, and other symptoms.
The average age for menopause is 51. But several women experience is earlier in life. Doctors can prescribe hormone replacement medications for perimenopausal females to help with low estrogen levels.
To Sum It Up
Mood swings can result from several reasons. Sometimes, the cause is a combination of factors. The key to reducing mood shifts is to be aware of one’s health condition. And take corrective measures even if it means consultations with healthcare providers, to manage the symptoms and seek improvement in the condition.
Last but not the least, the person must never give up. If there is a mood disorder, a solution is also possible.