20 Things That Might Cause Unexplained Moodiness

Do you suffer from a constant bad mood? Life is stressful and it is natural for you to take your frustrations out on those closest to you. If you are hormonal or suffering from depression, being in a bad mood is quite common.

Have you ever wondered what makes your mood fluctuate so much? According to Psychological EducationYour limbic system is the section of your brain responsible for your mood. Within this structure are the hypothalamus, hippocampus, and amygdala, and all of these areas help control your feelings.

Twenty things that can cause a bad mood

Many things can affect your temperament, including your neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. Here are the 20 most common things that can cause a bad mood.

1. Anxiety

Autoimmune disorders can increase inflammation in the body. An article on Jama Psychiatry refers to a study conducted by the Research Department in Translational Psychiatry in Munich, Germany. The review was to determine whether inflammation plays a crucial role in metabolic dysregulation.

The German study found that 45 percent of people with autoimmune conditions, who come with inflammatory problems, also had mood disturbances. This shows that there is a high probability that autoimmune diseases can affect your mood.

3. Depression

Being depressed is a common condition that affects more than 17 million people in this country, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Some of the classic signs of this mental health disorder are sleep and mood disorders and lack of motivation.

4. Pregnancy

Being pregnant triggers a surge of hormones because it helps the baby grow and flourish. When these surges occur, it has a dramatic effect on your mood. Pregnancy can make a woman feel on top of the world one minute and cry and miserable the next.

After the baby is born, the baby blues is commonplace due to massive hormonal change. According to the Center for Disease Control, about one in ten women will experience postpartum depression after giving birth.

5. Hormonal imbalances

Hormonal imbalances it can wreak havoc on your body and mind. If you notice that you are feeling angry or upset for no good reason, then hormonal fluctuations could be blamed. Things like testosterone, estrogen, and many others are produced by the body to keep things going.

If these hormones are too high or too low, your body can experience mood swings.

6. Sleep deprivation

Sleep is essential because it allows both your body and your brain to recover from daily events. When you don’t get enough sleep, you may wake up feeling groggy and in a bad mood.

If you don’t get at least 7 to 8 hours of rest each night, you will be in a bad mood and even make wrong decisions the next day. Lack of sleep can have a lot to do with your bad mood.

7. Bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder and bad mood go hand in hand. The hallmarks of this mental health condition are ups and downs. Still, there can be many underlying cognitive factors, such as an imbalance in brain chemistry, that cause these mood disruptions.

8. Prescription drugs

Did you know that the medications you take can cause mood swings? You may notice it especially when you start taking a new medicine. One drug that is known to affect your mood is steroids.

Many people find that they become more aggressive when taking these medications as their moods change. While steroids are a drug, many others can affect your mood as well.

9. Borderline personality disorder

Borderline personality disorder it is a serious mental health problem that is not fully understood. It is one of the most difficult mental illnesses to treat. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, BPD affects approximately 1.4 percent of the population.

Characteristics of this condition include mood instability, low self-image problems, behavior problems, and difficulty with daily functioning.

10. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

ADHD comes with impulse control problems. Those who suffer from this condition can get frustrated for the slightest reason, even standing too long in line at the grocery store. There are many mood disturbances with ADHD, but behavior therapy can help you learn to control impulses.

11. Caffeine

Well, if you fall asleep in the afternoon and have trouble with your mood, it could be due to caffeine. Your body gets used to having that stimulant to give you energy. When you are deficient, your mood can be affected. It’s a vicious cycle like you need more caffeine to repair your mood.

12. Allergies

Allergies can significantly affect your feelings and moods. During flare-ups, you may experience anger, sadness, and irritability. Chronic cases can lead to a lack of motivation, as well as a general deterioration in your emotional health.

13. Low blood sugar level

Some people are so hungry that it affects their mood. It is quite possible to be hungry and angry at the same time. It is not uncommon for low blood sugar to alter your mood.

According to an article published by the University of Michigan School of Public Health, many people are diagnosed with mood disorders when, in fact, it is their blood sugar level that needs attention. If you notice that your mood changes once you eat, then blood sugar problems could be blamed.

14. Life changes

Any change in your life, good or bad, can affect your mood. Moving can be stressful, and nothing makes some people more stressed than packing and moving. If you’re under great pressure at work, it can spill over into your home life. Any change or alteration in your life can have a direct impact on your emotions.

15. Dementia

Dementia is a disease that causes the death of areas of the brain. Over time, a person’s memory and personality alter. It is not uncommon to see mood swings in people with this condition.

Much of the frustration is because it is difficult to express themselves and they lack the words or the way to do it. These frustrations make them happy one minute and furious the next.

16. Menopause

Menopause is a condition that affects women, generally older than 50 years. The body does not produce as many hormones as it used to, so this causes a lot of disturbances. Women going through “the change” experience things like mood swings, hot flashes, and insomnia.

17. Eating too much sugar

You are eating too many carbohydrates and sugars during the day? Did you know that your diet can significantly affect your mood? Your diet can directly contribute to your mood swings. Cut back on carbohydrates and watch your mental health improve.

18. Thyroid problems

The small butterfly-shaped gland in your neck is called the thyroid. It controls many of your bodily functions. The thyroid produces hormones that regulate things like heart rate and mood.

If your body does not produce enough hormones, then you are deficient or hypothyroid. If your body makes too many of these hormones, you are considered to have hyperthyroidism.

19. Stress

Coping with chronic stress can significantly affect your mind and body. Did you know that stress can make you feel sad, angry, or even rage? The problem is that being under a constant state of stress will cause an alteration of the mood and you will not feel like yourself.

If you feel the pains of stress and tension, try exercising to make yourself feel better.

20. Premenstrual syndrome

Premenstrual syndrome or PMS is a condition that causes headaches, cramps, and mood swings before your period. You may feel sad or cranky for no reason, and there doesn’t need to be a trigger.

A woman’s hormone levels are believed to drop before she has her monthly cycle, and this drop in hormones causes mood problems. Fortunately, the hormones stabilize when the process begins and the harsh mood swings and cramps subside.

Final thoughts on bad mood