Moods are a part of life and serve a purpose but if you sense yours are a little too extreme, there may be underlying physiological and psychological reasons for you feeling extra agitated or crying for no reason. The good news? There is plenty of help to get you back on track. Read on for the common causes of mood swings — and if you check one (or more) of these boxes, we’ve also got a remedy to get your feelings back into balance.
Have you heard of the stress personality? Essentially, it’s the “you” that snaps at your kids despite your very best efforts or swears like a sailor at the car that cuts you off in traffic. Irritable, agitated, and defensive, the stress personality usually rears its head when we’re overworked, not sleeping properly, or going through a difficult chapter in our lives like a break up, redundancy, or loss.
Before any self-ascribed guilt kicks in – let us remind you that we all are “that person” at different times in our lives. The key is to honor that our environment or circumstances are putting a lot of pressure on our nervous system — and it’s not a reflection of us as people. However, even if you adopt a “stressed but blessed” mindset — living in a chronic state of stress is not good for long-term health and equally, it’s just not fun.
In the spirit of “the opposite is the medicine,” when life feels unkind, be extra kind to yourself. If you’re overworked, you need rest. If you’re feeling resentful in your relationships, you need you time. If you’re carrying the burden of others, you need self-care. This also means being super gentle with your immune system as stress can not only create mood swings but also weaken your body’s natural defenses. So, make sure to lean into the botanical supports that you know work for you.
Outside of its physical health implications like heart disease and diabetes, a lack of sleep is also linked to mood imbalances. Nobody is their “best self” after multiple nights of bad sleep and many people who report sleeplessness also report increased anger, frustration, and sadness. Sleep deprivation also goes the other way in that if you suffer mood disorders such as anxiety, you can also have difficulty sleeping or shutting off.
Sleep hygiene has been getting a lot of airplay in recent years — and with good reason. Our bodies need time to wind down before bed and respond to consistent cues such as less screen time, eating earlier in the evening, and also bathing. Research shows that taking a hot bath 90 minutes before bed can help you fall asleep more easily. Bathing in water at 100°F (38°C) stimulates the pineal gland that releases melatonin a hormone responsible for sleep. Equally, the drop in the body’s temperature signals to the body that it’s time to go to bed. Although a hot bath on its own has merits, support your body further with soaks that use sea salts and baking soda that put the body into a deeply restorative state and detoxifies. If you begin a routine evening bath practice, you may find that not only your sleep improves but you receive the many other science-backed benefits of bathing.
If you have female reproductive organs then at some point, you’ve probably experienced a hormone-related mood swing. Yes, our hormones work on a 28-ish day cycle meaning we are generally more influx than our male counterparts – but it doesn’t mean that extreme shifts in moods are normal or just “part of the female experience” as we’re often led to believe. Outside of our monthly cycle, we also move through different hormonal chapters of life from perimenopause to menopause and postmenopause. These bodily transitions obviously have adjustment periods that can create some mood instability but again, if you have the right support, they don’t need to be extreme or prolonged.
Rather than reach for temporary relief or suffer through, healing your cycle irregularities for good provides more stability long term. However, it does require a little more homework and potentially more time as the body rebalances itself. One route to explore is definitely food and movement and there is much research and conversation happening around cycle syncing. Equally, getting some lab work done to make sure your hormones and thyroid are functioning is a great option. Finally, pelvic steaming is an ancient practice that at its core, is a restorative, safe, and comfortable ritual that can connect, balance, and heal the feminine cycles. Along with food and movement, it’s a beautiful support that has been used across cultures for its grounding and healing impacts. Many women report their moods are stabilized almost immediately after steaming and a sense of clarity and calm replaces irritability, agitation, or melancholy.
There are times in life that we all feel down but often it’s not just circumstantial, it can be a chemical imbalance in our brain. If you are feeling sadness or anxiousness for extended periods of time, there may be a more clinical explanation for your mood swings.
If you feel this is the case for you, the first step is to seek out practitioner care — that may mean talk therapy, EMDR, or other somatic trauma and mind-body connection practices. It’s important to find a person or modality that feels healing to you — don’t be afraid to try a few things on for size before locking into a consistent treatment plan.
Also, clinical support doesn’t just need to come from therapies — it can also come from supplementation. There are increasing numbers of non-pharmaceutical alternatives to antidepressants that are worth considering as an alternative or addition to prescription medications. For example, THE FULLEST’s Kinder Thoughts™ saffron capsules are formulated at the clinically studied doses of saffron and turmeric that have been shown to be as effective as Prozac in some research trials. Again, shop around and uncover the plant medicines that work for you — although do give them at least 30 days to ensure you’re getting their maximum impact.
Most of us have felt the effects of a sugar crash, coffee jitters, or hang-xiety — and they’re all scientifically as well as anecdotally valid. As they say, what goes up must come down, and this includes our blood sugar levels and serotonin levels — and ultimately, mood.
Honestly, it’s never been easier to find alternatives to alcohol, your morning latte, or favorite soda. One of the benefits of the proliferation of wellness has seen a ton of clean (and actually mood-enhancing) options emerge in the beverage industry. It may take a little practice and weaning but making these swaps will undoubtedly keep your spirits high in the long run.
If you’re looking for some inspo, we love to swap a cocktail for a mocktail or infusion — we suggest our Strands of Sunshine™ infusion.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases.
Get your clinical saffron dosage in a saffron latte or one-a-day capsule form instead!
Signup below and we'll let you know as soon as this item is back in stock.
