Mood swings

introduction

Exulting in high spirits, saddened to death - everyone has probably experienced mood swings at least once in their life. However, these are mostly not dangerousbut are part of human life. In need of treatment are they only in extreme form. It should be noted that the transitions between normal and pathological can be fluid, which is particularly important in diagnostics.

Symptoms

Mood swings are noticeable or measurable by ourselves or by others Changes in the perceived basic mood - you can do both happier as well as depressed nature be and cover every emotional state.
You can have simple mood swings in the course of a day occur and are part of our lives. In particular Women are also more often affected by them, because in certain life situations through hormonal change the mood is influenced.
Mood swings can occur in the puberty, before the Menstrual period and within the pregnancy occur. They are identified by a rapidly changing mood, often with no apparent trigger. Only when the mood inappropriately strong or inappropriate will and in quick change, these are fluctuations of medical importance. They are to be clearly differentiated from normal "moods" - they are experienced more intensely by those affected and occur more frequently. These fluctuations are often due to psychiatric illnesses.

Mood swings can, for example, under a bipolar disorder or a morbid one Dependency from Drugs or alcohol occur. But also organic reasons, such as an illness changed hormone balance, can trigger mood swings. The best example here is this Overactive thyroid.

root cause

Often is a disorder or Change in hormonal balance the underlying cause of the mood swings. These can occur in the following areas of life, among others:

• puberty: During puberty, the body goes through, among other things, one hormonal change. The body changes that secondary sexual characteristics shape and girls experience the first Menstrual period. All of this is closely related to the hormonal balance, which is also changing, and can lead to too Irritability and Mood swings to lead.
• Menstrual cycle: Some women experience just before their monthly Menstrual period Mood swings. In particular, these come in connection with PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome) on. This is related to changes in the composition of hormones in the body that regulate the menstrual period in women.
• pregnancy and Puerperium: In particular, too Onset of pregnancy some pregnant women experience mood swings, but not all.
  This too depends on the changes in the Hormonal balance together as the hormone estrogen in pregnant women not, as is usual, from certain cells of the Ovaries is produced, but from that Plaster cake (placenta).
  Then there is the changed life situationwho have favourited additional psychological stress cause and affect mood.
  Read more about this at: Pregnancy depression
  After birth the new mothers often experience a so-called "Baby blues". By the sudden hormonal change back After the birth and the new circumstances, women can get into a psychological stressful situation, which is caused by mood swings, Hypersensitivity or Loss of appetite excels.
  Read more about this at: Postpartum depression
• Menopause: Even during the menopause, hormonal changes occur, especially at the beginning, which can lead to mood swings.
• Another organic cause is that Hyperthyroidism
• Organic too Changes in the brain can trigger mood swings. This can be related to dementia, Alzheimer's disease and traumatic brain injury occur. The Affect control be disturbed, which can also be noticeable in violent moods. As affect control is the ability of people to unpleasant or negative emotionsthat are triggered by certain events or experiences or by dealing with them, to control and process.
  In the best case, it ends with the Incorporation of emotion into the “Self”.
• There are several studies that suggest a relationship between the intake of lithium by eating and drinking and displaying growth and development in animals and psychological problems in humans. From this it can be concluded that lithium is an important one Emotional control factor represents and it with one defect about it Mood swings can come.

However, mood swings can also be caused by a mental illness, such as a bipolar disorder, to be triggered. Here a relationship between genetic and environmental factors such as. Living conditions and life events that trigger stress supposed. Mood swings can also indicate an underlying psychological problem.
For example life events not overcome such as. of the Loss of a loved one or des Workplace etc. trigger a mental illness that can also involve mood swings. Traumatic events such as sexual abuse can also lead to it.

Mood swings occur particularly in connection with the following psychiatric illnesses on:

• Bipolar disorder: Bipolar disorder is characterized by alternating highs and lows in the mood, the occur for no reason and those affected burden heavily can.
• Borderline syndrome: The borderline syndrome is characterized by impulsive behavior and a disturbed impulse control. Emotions are often felt to an exaggerated degree and carried outwards, and it often occurs Mood swings. It is difficult for borderline patients to maintain a relationship with other people, they have one disturbed and inappropriately negative self-image and have little self-esteem.
• schizophrenia: This covers a group of symptoms, mainly due to paranoid delusions and Hallucinations, such as. hearing voices. Step in an acute attack Disorders of thinking and perception on that too Language abnormalities and can lead to dangerous behavior for yourself and others.
• Schizoaffective Disorders: This denotes a Mixed form of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It is characterized by alternating strongly negative or strongly positive moods as well as delusions and Hallucinations
• ADHD: A psychiatric disorder that often occurs for the first time in childhood or adolescence and is caused by decreased alertness, A strong physical restlessness can also occur.
• Last but not least, the Use of drugs or alcohol affect the brain and cause mood swings. Especially during the Drug withdrawal mood swings may increase. Also Medication can sometimes trigger mood swings as an undesirable side effect.

therapy

Since mood swings can have many causes, one is Treatment of the underlying condition most promising. In addition, not every type of mood swings needs treatment.
Are these specific Areas or sections of life are limited, such as. in the puberty or at one Pregnancy depressiontreatment is not necessary. However, the mood swings are in particular pronounced or always recurringtherapy should take place.

Mood swings occur as part of a psychiatric illness like one bipolar disorder on, is usually one medical therapy required.
In this case, mostly Antidepressants prescribed that intervene in the brain metabolism and affect the mood. Important biological messengers of the brain that play a role here are Serotonin and Dopamine.
Another remedy is lithiumthat the Mood stabilized and is used in particular for severe mental mood swings. The exact mode of action of lithium has not yet been fully scientifically clarified.

Last but not least, in the case of a psychologically conditioned cause, there should always be a possible underlying Problems and processing difficulties included in past events and psychological help to be sought. The therapy is always based on the severity and severity of the underlying mental illness. Selected procedures can be a Deep psychological talk therapy, one Behavior therapy, one Psychoanalysis or one Occupational therapy be.
Especially when possible traumatic experiences in the life of the person affected, such as sexual abuseThat seem likely to be the cause of the mood swings is one accompanying psychological therapy to recommend.

are organic causes responsible for mood swings, such as with one Overactive thyroid, a basic therapy for this disease must take place. In the case of the thyroid, these would be definite Medication, one surgery or one Radioiodine therapy.

diagnosis

Mood swings can psychiatric cause be, but also through physical processes, such as a change in the Hormonal balanceto be conditioned. Hence a detailed diagnostics important in order to be able to adapt the therapy to the corresponding cause. The necessary examinations can include both physical and psychological factors.

forecast

Prognosis depends strongly on the underlying clinical picture from. It is therefore difficult to make a comprehensive statement about it. On long term is the prognosis of mood swings quite cheapeven if it is acute too life threatening situations can occur, especially if mood swings occur as a result of a psychiatric illness.

prophylaxis

There a Lack of lithium In the body is believed to be one of the causes of mood swings, there is consideration given to lithium in the body prophylactically over a long period of time feed.
However, there is still no researchthat would be meaningful enough and could prove this measure. Also the preventive use of Meditations and Relaxation exercises is being discussed. Generally one is Early detection and early and successful therapy an important prerequisite for a good prognosis. It is therefore advisable to seek advice from a doctor if you experience severe mood swings.