I have been receiving plenty of emails with regards to mood swings and stress management techniques. Although it is the festive season, some people can be stressed up during this period of time due to various factors (such as the fear of being alone, the stress of spending money on gifts, meeting the in-laws etc). As such, I fell that it would be a good time to give you some tips on reducing mood swings to allow yourselves to have a fruitful holiday season. Thank you for sending me your emails and keep on enjoying the Christmas and New Year holidays!
Mood swings are conditions when a person experiences a drastic change in emotion within a span of few hours. Someone who suffers from this problem, in one moment feels very happy and the next moment is suddenly upset , irritated, and even hostile .
Studies have shown that women experience mood swings twice as many as men. This is not surprising because many mood swings are the effect of premenstrual syndrome, pregnancy, menopause, hypothyroidism and other biological problems.
Tips
1.) Build positive attitude towards life
Try to reduce stress from your life. Find healthier ways of distressing your mind and body - such as jogging, yoga, and some light exercises like swimming, dancing and brisk walk. Develop a reading habit. Music also helps to quiet the mind during stressful. Say 'hi' ans smile a lot. As I have mentioned in my previous post, laughter and humour does wonders to a person's mood!
2.) Try to get enough sleep daily
Sleeping can help revitalize your body as well as your mind. Though hormonal changes may be normal, you can cope by getting enough amount of quality sleep. So how much is enough for you? If you find yourself easily tired during your midday meetings or trying hard to keep awake during your normal daily routines, then you are probably not getting the right amount for your body. If you are trying to modify your sleep patterns/habits, please remember to give yourselves time to adjust (between 2-4 weeks, generally).
3.) Go out at least once per day and notice simple things such as the weather, scenery and so on
Enjoy the sunshine and breeze! And also, look at things green and blue as these colours has a claming effect on the mind.
4.) Boost your intake of omega-3 fats — found in fish and other foods
Omega 3 has been found to increase blood circulation and balance out the chemicals in the brain, which in allows once to see problems in a more logical manner rather than blow things out of proportion.
5.) Use visualization
One of the most effective ways of dealing with just about any situation is the pwer of visualization. Reserve at least 5-10 minutes each day to visualize yourself in happy situations. Go through the 'mini movie' just after getting up i the mornings to add a jolt to your system the entire day. I shall talk a lot more about visualization in future.
Finally remember that this is a passing phase and that time is the best healer. Things could improve and you may soon be able to manage your emotions and feelings. A counsellor or a therapist’s help could be sought if the problem is very grave and if the situation gets out of hand and starts interfering with your dealings in daily life.
