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What Can Cause Rapid

Shifts in Mood?
Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg,
Ph.D., CRNP — Written by Natalie Silver —
Updated on December 5, 2019

Seeing your doctor Causes Treatments

Outlook

Overview
It’s normal to have days where you feel sad
or days when you’re overjoyed. As long as
your mood changes don’t interfere with your
life to an extreme degree, they’re generally
considered to be healthy.
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On the other hand, you may have a medical
condition if you switch from extremely happy
to extremely depressed on a regular basis. If
you have serious and frequent shifts in
mood, you should tell your doctor about
them. They can discuss the possible reasons
for why you’re experiencing them.

Some causes of rapid changes in behavior

can be related to mental health, hormones,
substance use, or other health conditions.

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:
 When to see your doctor
It’s common to experience a change in
mood occasionally or to go through a short
period of feeling elated or blue. But if your
behavior is unpredictable for a number of
days or longer, it may be a sign of something
more serious.

You may feel grumpy one minute and happy

the next. You may also have emotions that
can cause damage to your life.

For example, you may:

be so excitable that you find yourself

unable to control urges to spend
money, confront people, or engage in
other uncontrollable or risky behaviors
feel like you want to harm yourself or
end your life
:
 be unable to visit friends, get enough
sleep, go to work, or even get out of
bed

Patterns of these types of mood shifts may

be symptoms of a more serious health
condition. You should schedule an
appointment with your doctor to discuss
your feelings. They can work with you to
determine why you feel this way and what
you can do to resolve it.

If you’re currently in a crisis, or considering

self-harm or suicide, you can call the
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 24/7 at 1-
800-273-8255.

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What conditions are tied to

severe shifts in mood?
In many cases, shifts in mood are a symptom
:
 of a more serious health issue. They can
occur due to mental health conditions,
hormonal changes, or substance use
problems, among other things.

Mental health conditions

Many mental health conditions can cause

severe shifts in mood. They’re often referred
to as mood disorders. They include the
following:

Bipolar disorder. If you have bipolar

disorder, your emotions range from
extremely happy to extremely sad. But
changes in mood associated with
bipolar disorder generally only occur a
few times a year, even in rapid-cycling
bipolar disorder.

Cyclothymic disorder. Cyclothymic

disorder, or cyclothymia, is a mild mood
disorder similar to bipolar II disorder. In
it, you have emotions that go up and
down but are less severe than those
associated with bipolar disorder.

Major depressive disorder (MDD). In

MDD, you experience extreme sadness
for a long period of time. MDD is also
sometimes called clinical depression.

Dysthymia. Dysthymia, now called

persistent depressive disorder (PDD) is
a chronic form of depression.
:
 Personality disorders. In certain
personality disorders, you may
experience rapid changes in mood in a
relatively short period of time.

Disruptive mood dysregulation

disorder (DMDD). DMDD is typically
only diagnosed in children. In it, your
child has outbursts that aren’t on target
with their developmental stage.

You may also experience extreme changes

in mood if you have other mental health
conditions, such as schizophrenia and
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD).

According to a 2011 review, children with

sever shifts in mood are often thought to
have bipolar disorder but actually have
another condition. Your child’s doctor will be
able to evaluate your child and help you
determine an appropriate treatment plan.

All mental health conditions are manageable

with a number of or combination of
medications, lifestyle changes, and
psychotherapy.

Hormonal conditions

Hormones can also cause shifts in mood.

This has to do with hormones affecting the
chemistry of the brain. Teens and women
who are pregnant or going through
menopause may experience shifts in mood
:
 due to the hormonal changes associated
with this phase of their body’s development.

Shifts in mood can also occur due to more

than just hormones. If you experience
extreme mood shifts, talk to your doctor
about the best treatment plan for you.

Substance use

You may experience significant shifts in

mood if you use drugs or drink alcohol.
Excessive drug or alcohol use can lead to
addiction, which can seriously interfere with
your life. Many programs are available to
help treat substance use disorders.

Substance use disorders can be hard on

both the person with the disorder and loved
ones. You may need to help a loved one
with their disorder. Their doctor can provide
helpful treatment plans to help you get them
the help they need. If you’re not sure how to
talk to someone with an addiction or
substance use disorder, here’s something to
think about.

Other health conditions

Other health conditions can cause shifts in

mood. This includes conditions affecting
your lungs, cardiovascular system, and
thyroid. Conditions that affect your central
nervous system may also cause shifts in
mood.
:
 Common triggers

Regardless of whether your extreme mood

changes occur due to an underlying medical
condition or another factor, certain things
can trigger them. This includes:

stress
a significant change in your life
your diet
your sleep habits
medications

If you experience frequent and severe shifts

in mood, consult your doctor. It may be
helpful for you to note when you have a shift
in mood and what you were doing before it
happened. This can help your doctor assess
whether you were reacting to a lifestyle
change or if it’s the result of an underlying
issue.
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How are shifts in mood

treated?
If you’re experiencing severe shifts in mood,
or mood changes that cause extreme
disruption in typical behavior, you should talk
to your doctor. They can help you determine
the causes of your shifts in mood and help
you find appropriate treatment. You may
need professional therapy or medications to
relieve these life-altering shifts in mood.
Simple lifestyle changes may also help, too.

If your ups and downs aren’t affecting other

aspects of your life negatively, you may be
able to work through your shifts in mood
without medical attention. You might be able
to regulate your moods if you do the
following:
:
 Keep a schedule. Try to create a
routine for yourself, especially when it
comes to eating and sleeping.

Exercise regularly. Exercising regularly

has numerous benefits for nearly all
aspects of your health, including mood.

Get sufficient sleep. A good night’s

sleep is important, and sleep
deprivation can affect your mood.

Eat a healthy diet. A balanced, healthy

diet can improve your mood and keep
you healthy. Here are some tips to
sticking to a healthy diet.

Practice relaxation. Engage in calming

practices like yoga or meditation.

Avoid stress. Easier said than done,

right? If you can’t avoid it, aim to
manage and relieve stress as it comes.

Express yourself. Find a creative outlet

to express yourself.

Talk it out. Find someone to talk to,

such as a friend, family member, or
professional counselor.

Keeping a journal to record your significant

shifts in mood might also help you determine
the reasons you experience them. Look for
patterns and try to avoid situations or
activities that directly impact your mood.
Sharing the mood journal with your doctor
can also help with your diagnosis.
:
 The bottom line
Keep in mind that shifts in mood can vary in
severity. Experiencing a range of emotions is
a part of life. You may need to adjust your
lifestyle to get back to feeling normal if you
experience occasional mood shifts in mood.

You should take mood changes that alter

your behavior and negatively impact your life
or those around you seriously. Contact your
doctor if you feel that severe shifts in mood
have taken over your daily life or if you’ve
been feeling out of sorts for an extended
period of time. These could be symptoms of
a health condition.

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Last medically reviewed on February 16, 2018

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