Even simple things you don't pay much attention to can affect your mood.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published on February 4, 2020. It has since been updated.
Most of us go through mood swings every now and then. It's not an unusual thing and is more often than not brushed aside "oh just a bad day." But it can be a problem when it becomes persistent and is no longer an effect of just a "bad day." When mood swings go on for a long time and start affecting your everyday routine, it can be the result of some other underlying problem, some of which could be the following.
Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can affect your mood in different ways.
On one hand, hypothyroidism can result in "reduced mood", as pointed out by Mary Vouyiouklis, an endocrinologist, according to Cleveland Clinic. "You won’t be able to think as clearly, and you might feel like you have brain fog," Valentina Rodriguez, an endocrinologist, told Women's Health.
On the other hand, the effect of hyperthyroidism would be different. "People will feel like they’re thinking a million miles a minute, they’re anxious, irritable, and tremulous," Rodriguez said.
During perimenopause, which is when your body is transitioning into menopause, the level of estrogen starts rising and falling unevenly, according to Mayo Clinic. You might notice mood swings and irritability at the time, along with the increased risk of depression.
Certain deficiencies like Vitamin B-12 or other B vitamins can affect your mood, according to Mayo Clinic. They help in releasing chemicals that affect your brain functioning and a drop in these vitamins could result in a change in your mood.
Irritability and mood swings are among the symptoms that point towards diabetes. Other symptoms include changes in weight, increased hunger or thirst, excessive urge to urinate, slow healing of wounds, extreme fatigue, and others.
If you struggle to sleep at night or stay asleep, these could lead to problems affecting your general health. A sleep disorder like insomnia can level you feeling drained of your energy and also affect your mood.
A hormonal imbalance such as a spike in estrogen levels in your body could affect your mood. "With too much estrogen, typical symptoms are tender breasts, water retention, mood swings, irritability, and sweet or chocolate cravings and often heavy periods," Alyssa Burns-Hill, Ph.D, Hormone and Holistic Health Specialist, and author of Weight Loss Winners & Dieting Downfalls: Hormonally Speaking, told Cosmopolitan.
Not drinking plenty of water can affect a number of health factors; your mood can be affected even by mild dehydration. Harris Lieberman, Ph.D., a scientist with the U.S. Army conducted a study on the effects of dehydration on women's brains and found that women experienced a significant drop in their mood and energy. "...Women were more likely to have headaches and report difficulty concentrating," Lieberman told Shape.
Several conditions fall under mental health disorders, and these generally affect your mood, along with the way you think and the way you behave. Signs of mental illness could make you feel sad or down, you might have extreme feelings of guilt, experience fears and worries and extreme mood changes of highs and lows.
References:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/transcripts/1443_thyroid-problems
https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/g19683170/thyroid-symptoms-in-women/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/perimenopause/symptoms-causes/syc-20354666
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-you-should-know-about-unexplained-weight-loss-and-diabetes/
https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/body/health/a19690138/hormonal-imbalance-symptoms-signs/
https://www.shape.com/lifestyle/mind-and-body/your-brain-dehydration
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mental-illness/symptoms-causes/syc-20374968
Disclaimer : This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
