[RainbowSadness]

I don't know how to cope with my mood swings. Basically, for a couple hours (especially when I'm tired) I get on the depressed side, then normalish for a couple hours, euphoric for a couple hours, repeat. I also have random spurts of anger here and there.

It's really draining to have a constantly shifting mood. When it comes to my mental health I'd probably classify it as my biggest issue. I have no idea how to cope with it. When I had brought it up to my old therapist she didn't offer any solutions.

[lady411]

Im sorry you're going through those mood swings. It sounds like it's awfully exhausting. I don't have a solution for you but i do have some personal experience with mood swings. And all I can say is that when you are experiencing the negative moods, try to put yourself in a peaceful place physically & mentally.

[Caracalxaos]

I feel like that happens to me, but less extreme. I can feel happy and excited with my friends, but then when I’m alone, I berate myself and always talk myself down. It’s been a recent problem that I haven’t really told anyone I know about, because I just know that they’ll all treat me differently, especially my sister, who will probably try to mimic me just for attention.

[Fuzzybear]

[MickeyCheeky]

Do you take any meds?

[maisina]

I can relate. I have had phases like this with anxiety, where it would cause mood swings. Only when I actually have mood swings, I'm not generally anxious. I've felt really depressed, sometimes to the point of suicidal, or incredibly angry either at nothing or at something relatively small that my mother said recently or years ago (it just comes flooding right back), or so euphoric that I feel like I've so much energy that I don't know what to do with it and I feel it of control. All of these usually only last an hour or less in their acute form, and I've had days where I've gone through all the emotions. Then it causes a strain with the relationship between me and my mother. So I can definitely relate to how hard it is. I feel like I can't trust how I'll feel in a few hours, when I'm going through a phase like that. For me, being alone in my room is definitely a help. Being with people tends to make it worse, although I'm naturally rather introverted. So it might be the opposite if you are a people person. I find mood swings come in phases with me. A few days or weeks, then they stop for a while. I took ginseng and ginkgo the last time I had a phase. That may have contributed. Are you on medication or herbal supplements?

[RainbowSadness]

Originally Posted by MickeyCheeky

Do you take any meds?

Nope, not on any meds.

[RainbowSadness]

Originally Posted by maisina

I can relate. I have had phases like this with anxiety, where it would cause mood swings. Only when I actually have mood swings, I'm not generally anxious. I've felt really depressed, sometimes to the point of suicidal, or incredibly angry either at nothing or at something relatively small that my mother said recently or years ago (it just comes flooding right back), or so euphoric that I feel like I've so much energy that I don't know what to do with it and I feel it of control. All of these usually only last an hour or less in their acute form, and I've had days where I've gone through all the emotions. Then it causes a strain with the relationship between me and my mother. So I can definitely relate to how hard it is. I feel like I can't trust how I'll feel in a few hours, when I'm going through a phase like that. For me, being alone in my room is definitely a help. Being with people tends to make it worse, although I'm naturally rather introverted. So it might be the opposite if you are a people person. I find mood swings come in phases with me. A few days or weeks, then they stop for a while. I took ginseng and ginkgo the last time I had a phase. That may have contributed. Are you on medication or herbal supplements?

I don't take any medication or herbs. I was on Prozac once and it gave me a horrific night terror. I took Saint John's Wort and it gave me anxiety. The only reason I really took Prozac was that my therapist kinda pressured me to take meds when I was in a weak spot. I'm big into living naturally. I don't even take cough drops or cold medicine.

For me, the mood swings are more intense when I'm alone. I just for some reason get plain out depressed when I'm with other people. My mood swings used to come in longer phases where I'd be happy for a couple days, depressed for a couple weeks, normal for a couple weeks but for a long time they've had super short intervals.

[maisina]

Do you know yourself what the triggers are for the mood settings? I don't always know. Sometimes they come out of the blue for me, but sometimes they have a trigger that I overreact to. Today I had a job interview, which was naturally not relaxing, and afterwards there were things I felt I could have said that would have been helpful (I know, that happens to everyone!) then later in the day a colleague that I get on well with nearly all the time, said something to me that I felt was patronising. And I was only being helpful and doing my job. There is a chance she didn't mean it that way, but my initial perception of the situation has stuck and I feel depressed. Those things have now bugged me for most of the day and I feel really under the weather because of it. Even though I totally know I'm overacting. But my logical brain and my emotions currently will not align. I feel like crying and going to bed. So I will have an early night. I've done that before when coming home and feeling drained. Going to bed at 8 o clock can really help I find. Then I feel I can be me. I might do a short bit of yoga first, as they always say exercise is good for mental health. Often I'll feel better the next day.