Causes of Mood Swings

While it is difficult to pinpoint one specific cause of mood swings, researchers have proposed several options, including chemical imbalances and hormonal changes.

Chemical Imbalance

Most modern research indicates that mood disorder may be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. The experience of feelings such as happiness, stress, fear, depression or anxiety, occur when the brain releases chemicals called neurotransmitters. It is the release and re-absorption of these neurotransmitters that affect how a person feels. People who experience mood swings might have an imbalance of the neurotransmitters serotonin, norepenephrine, GABA and dopamine. There are medicines and therapy techniques available that are designed to help establish a balance of the release, reuptake and absorption of these key neurotransmitters.

Hormonal Changes

Some women experience hormonal mood swings during or after pregnancy or with their menstrual cycles. Teenagers often experience mood swings after the introduction of sex hormones during puberty. Often, the mood swings are alleviated once the hormone levels have returned to normal.