Coping with Mood Swings

People experience mood swings for a variety of reasons. Women may sense their moods changing prior to or during menstrual cycles or menopause. Men and women deal with mood swings because of seasonal depression – not to mention any and all types of depression – and life situations, like career and family, which cause a certain amount of upset to one’s daily life. Moods also correspond with general health conditions.

While the reasons for mood swings can vary greatly, there are ways to manage them. Certainly, if they become severe, a prescription for an anti-depressant or other medication – or possibly hormone therapy replacement for women – from a health professional may be in order. However, there are natural remedies for many who experience the ups and downs of life on a less severe level.

Along the line of vitamins that can be beneficial for mood swings, there are several that are becoming quite popular and can typically be found in any nutritional section of a grocery or any health food store.

The most common vitamin used to combat mood irregularities is C, though calcium can also be helpful. A close second is the B-complex vitamin, as many of those ingredients are destroyed in the body by caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, and refined sugars. Other supplements that are often taken to lessen mood swings are magnesium, zinc, iron, and potassium. And manganese is often taken in conjunction with B-complex and C vitamins to ensure proper stabilization.

Lesser known supplements that have also been found advantageous in the treatment of minor to moderate mood swings are vitex (200-500 milligrams twice daily recommended) and chasteberry (5-15 drops of the liquid mixed with three ounces of water three times daily).

Mood swings can also be challenged in more natural ways without the help of vitamins and supplements, or even in combination with them to ease various symptoms.

Exercise is the most common remedy, especially aerobic exercise as it releases serotonin and endorphins that positively affect moods. Even a 30-minute walk each day can significantly increase mental and emotional health. Yoga is also highly recommended for relaxation and balance.

Incorporating a healthier diet into one’s daily regimen can be helpful, namely the elimination of refined sugars and yeast-producing foods like baked desserts. Milk and wheat products can also cause allergies that are difficult to detect but can affect a person’s moods. And adding healthy juices to the diet, such as carrot juice, can be beneficial by stabilizing sugar in the body and minimizing mood swings.

Baths can be tremendously relaxing. By incorporating lavender and/or chamomile additives for relaxation or bergamot for depression, to water that is just slightly cooler than body temperature, moods swings can be eased through a simple bath of 20-30 minutes.

Since mood swings can be caused by numerous physical, social, and mental sources, it is always wise to consult a nutritionist or health professional that can examine physical health and recommend the best course of action. Whether it is a supplement, change in daily routine, or combination of several remedies, mood swings can usually be managed in a way that can be easily incorporated into everyday life.