Why do i feel moody

Irritability is more likely to be one of the symptoms of depression in men than in women, and it often occurs alongside aggressive feelings, risk-taking, and substance abuse. The National Institute of Mental Health state that people may have depression if they experience any of the following symptoms for 2 or more weeks:. Not everyone experiences every symptom of depression. Symptoms can vary in severity and duration. Feelings of anxiety often arise in response to stressful situations in life, such as problems at work, preparing for an important exam, or going through significant life changes.

This type of anxiety usually goes away once the stressful situation passes. People may also experience panic attacks. A panic attack refers to a period of intense fear that develops with little to no warning and peaks within minutes. The exact triggers vary from person to person, and they may not always be apparent. People who experience panic attacks may find themselves worrying about when the next attack will occur. They might go out of their way to avoid situations, places, or behaviors that could trigger an attack.

Thinking about triggers and panic attacks can make a person feel overwhelmed and irritable. The term phobia describes an intense fear or aversion to a certain object, person, or situation.

Thinking about or having exposure to the phobic situation or item can make a person feel overwhelmed, panicky, and more irritable than usual. Not getting enough sleep, or sleep deprivation , can make a person feel irritable the next day. Children are especially likely to be unusually irritable or emotional if they have not had enough good quality sleep. If a person feels tired all of the time or finds that sleeping does not make them feel refreshed, they may have a sleep disorder that causes them to wake up regularly at night , such as insomnia or sleep apnea.

They recommend that adults get at least 7 hours of sleep per night. Teenagers should get 8—10 hours per night, while babies may need up to 16 hours. Getting enough good quality sleep is important for health. It plays a role in boosting mental performance, concentration, and immune system function, and it also reduces the risk of heart disease and depression. People can boost their quality of sleep by adopting the following practices to improve their sleep hygiene:. Read more tips for better sleep here.

Low blood sugar commonly affects people with diabetes as a result of them using insulin and other diabetes medications. However, people with or without diabetes can experience temporary hypoglycemia if they have not eaten for several hours. The symptoms of hypoglycemia include:. An underlying problem may be disrupting your sleep. You may not be thinking about food, but your brain needs it. The longer you go without food, the crankier you may become.

Skipping meals can cause your blood glucose level to drop, which stimulates your brain to release certain hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol. These are also stress hormones.

And when these hormones flood your bloodstream, you may experience nervousness, agitation, poor concentration, and low energy. Thankfully, this type of crankiness is easy to resolve. To boost your mood, make sure what you eat is nutritional. One study linked trans fat consumption with aggression and irritability. Trans fats are found in many processed and premade foods such as baked goods, microwavable popcorn, and margarine. Eating too much of this type of fat may explain your irritability.

Even in small doses, caffeine may cause anxiety, which can have a negative impact on your mood. If you drink caffeine regularly, a lack of caffeine can also cause crankiness. According to the Mayo Clinic , up to mg of caffeine a day is safe for most adults. That is approximately the amount of caffeine in four cups of brewed coffee. Keep in mind that some people are more sensitive to caffeine than others, so you may have to decrease your intake to less than four cups a day.

Menstruating women often experience a sudden decrease in the hormone progesterone a few days before the beginning of their periods, which can trigger anxiety, agitation, and bad moods.

Many people think of depression as feeling sad, but depression also can bring feelings of moodiness, impatience, anger, or even just not caring. When depression gets in the way of enjoying life or dealing with others, that's a sign you need to do something about it, like talking to a counselor or therapist who can help you deal with it.

Also, if you ever feel like hurting yourself, that's more than just a bad mood and you need to tell someone. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. Although not every teen experiences mood changes to the same degree, they are common. Catch your breath. Or count to Or do something that lets you settle down for a few moments, especially if you're feeling angry or irritable.

Try to look at the situation from the point of view of a wise observer. Talk to people you trust. Friends can help each other by realizing that they're not alone in their feelings. Talking to parents is important, too.

Parents can share their own experiences dealing with bad moods. So if irritability stems from a mental health issue, working out can help. On the flipside, however, too much exercise may increase irritability. If your exercise regimen seems to be worsening your mood, talk to your physician. Chewing gum might be a quick way to relieve stress, which may be helpful in reducing your irritability. A study found that people felt less anxious and less stressed when they were chewing gum.

It also improved their focus and attention. So the next time you feel a little irritable, reach for a piece of gum. You might find it helps you feel a little calmer and a little happier. When you catch yourself dwelling on the unfairness of a situation or thinking about how much you dislike something, reframe it. Stick to the facts, rather than your judgments and emotions surrounding those facts.

In the case of a traffic jam, you might remind yourself that there are millions of cars on the road every day and traffic jams are bound to happen. Irritability can be a sign of a mental health issue, like depression. So if your irritability lingers for a couple of weeks or you are concerned about it, talk to your physician or reach out to a mental health professional. Treating an underlying mental health issue may help resolve your irritability so you can feel better.

A little irritability may just be a sign that you need to create some lifestyle changes. Adding a little more self-care into your daily routine might be all it takes to feel your best. Everything feels more challenging when you're dealing with depression. Get our free guide when you sign up for our newsletter.

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