Why Does My Mood Change So Fast?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsMental Health DisordersOther CausesTreatmentWhen to See a Healthcare Provider

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Symptoms

Mental Health Disorders

Other Causes

Treatment

When to See a Healthcare Provider

Mood changes that are fast, with abrupt swings in your mood or emotional state, may be a normal response to stress or hormonal shifts. However, they can also signify a mental health disorder.

If you or someone you know are having suicidal thoughts, dial988to contact the988 Suicide & Crisis Lifelineand connect with a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call911.

This article explains how to recognize the symptoms of mood swings, what may be causing them, and how they can be managed.

Symptoms of Mood Swings

Mood changes are a normal part of life, especially when you are going through a lot of stress. Sometimes, however, the changes in mood, sleep pattern, activity levels and behavior can be a sign of a mental health disorder.

For example, bipolar disorder, a type ofmood disorder, causes manic (abnormally happy or irritable) and depressive (excessively sad) episodes. Unlike regular mood shifts, these episodes can last for several days or weeks.

When someone experiences a depressive episode, they may have the following symptoms:

When someone experiences a manic episode, their symptoms may include:

Sleep Disorders

Mental Health Disorders and Mood Swings

When mood swings are extreme, rapid, and long-lasting, they may be a sign of a mental health disorder. Three mental health disorders that are strongly associated with mood swings include:

Borderline Personality Disorder

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disordersymptoms include extreme episodes of either depression and mania orhypomania(a less severe form of mania). They are hallmark features of bipolar disorders I and II. Changes in mood can last for several days to several months. People can also experience long periods (months to years) without any mood symptoms.

Cyclothymic Disorder

Cyclothymic disorderis related to bipolar disorder. With this disorder, an unstable mood state in which people experience hypomania and mild depression may last for two years or longer. Periods of stable moods typically last less than eight weeks.

Depression

Depression can occur for a variety of reasons, frompostpartum mood swingsin the weeks after giving birth to the mental health changes common inneurodegenerativeillnesses likeHuntington’s disease.

Even people who experience the “winter blues” ofseasonal affective disorderdescribe symptoms of depression. But mood swings associated withmajor depressive disorder(MDD) andpersistent depressive disorder(PDD) are part of a chronic mental health pattern often treated with therapy and medication.

Different Types of Depression: An Overview

Substance Use Disorders

When mood swings are extreme, rapid, and long-lasting, they may be a sign of a mental health disorder. Substance use disorders often occur alongside mental health issues.

Researchers are working to identify genetic pathways for mental health disorders as well as substance use disorders including alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, andopioidsand cocaine.In some cases, they’re finding a relationship between substance use disorders (like alcohol) and the genetic basis for conditions that cause mood instability.

Dual Diagnosis and Mood SwingsResearchers note a reciprocal link with substance use disorders (SUD) and mental illness that can lead to mood swings. Up to 75% of those diagnosed with severe illness (such asschizophreniaor bipolar disorder) also have an SUD; roughly 60% of adults with an SUD were diagnosed with at least one mental health disorder.

Dual Diagnosis and Mood Swings

Researchers note a reciprocal link with substance use disorders (SUD) and mental illness that can lead to mood swings. Up to 75% of those diagnosed with severe illness (such asschizophreniaor bipolar disorder) also have an SUD; roughly 60% of adults with an SUD were diagnosed with at least one mental health disorder.

Substance Use Disorder & Addiction

Other Causes of Mood Swings

Fast mood swings are often a symptom of mental health disorders, but there are other causes.

ADHD and Mood Swings

Mood swings are common in people with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A study of 502 adults diagnosed with ADHD found that 50% of them experienced mood swings, compared with just 5% of the people in a control group.

The adults with ADHD had been described as children as being impulsive, easily losing control, and often in trouble with authorities. Emotional symptoms of ADHD tend to persist into adulthood, with difficulties at work or school, and social and financial problems.

Some experts think mood swings are part of the ADHD diagnosis itself. However, one study found mood swings and emotional fluctuations were especially true among people with ADHD who were also diagnosed with a mood disorder. Depression, for example, occurred in 70% of the adults with ADHD.

Stress and Mood Swings

Certain stressors can lead to mood swings and symptoms of depression, including:

Hormonal Shifts and Mood Swings

Lower levels of testosterone also can cause mood swings in assigned males.Hormones also may play a role in the altering manic and depressive phases of some people diagnosed with bipolar disorder, with changes that may be specific to age and sex.

Medications and Mood Swings

Steroid drugs in particular are commonly associated with changes in mood and mood swings.There are two classes of steroids:

Other medications that are known to cause mood swings includeisotretinoin.Theselective serotonin reuptake inhibitors(SSRIs) such as Zoloft (sertraline) and Lexapro (escitalopram) do so as well.

How to Treat Mood Changes

For more serious causes of mood swings, treatment may include:

Are There Tests to Diagnose the Cause of Mood Swings?There is no definitive test that can diagnose the cause of mood swings. A healthcare provider or mental health professional will take a detailed medical and family history and ask you about your symptoms, triggers, and how long they last. If a mental health disorder is suspected, they may consult with other providers you’ve seen and/or ask for input from friends or family.

Are There Tests to Diagnose the Cause of Mood Swings?

There is no definitive test that can diagnose the cause of mood swings. A healthcare provider or mental health professional will take a detailed medical and family history and ask you about your symptoms, triggers, and how long they last. If a mental health disorder is suspected, they may consult with other providers you’ve seen and/or ask for input from friends or family.

Types of Mental Health Therapy

If your mood swings are severe and frequent, or are having an impact on your job, family life, or other relationships, it is important to contact your healthcare provider who may refer you to a mental health professional.

They will likely refer you to a psychiatrist or other mental health professional trained to diagnose mood disorders through a complete medical history and psychiatric evaluation.

Specific symptoms can be warning flags. Call your healthcare provider if you:

How to Manage Suicidal Ideation

Summary

It’s normal to experience mood swings, especially during times of extreme stress. Other causes, including hormonal changes or high doses of some drugs like steroids, can all cause changes in your emotional state.

However, some mental health disorders can also cause mood swings and require treatment from a mental health professional. It’s common with disorders like schizophrenia or borderline personality disorder and even can occur with conditions like ADHD or Huntington’s disease.

A mental health professional can offer resources to help manage mood swings and offer advice on talking to your loved ones, so they can better understand you and offer support.

17 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

National Alliance on Mental Illness.Bipolar disorder.

Johns Hopkins Medicine.Mood disorders.

National Institute of Mental Health.Bipolar disorder.

Broome MR, Saunders KE, Harrison PJ, Marwaha S.Mood instability: significance, definition and measurement.Br J Psychiatry. 2015 Oct;207(4):283-285. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.114.158543

National Alliance on Mental Illness.Borderline personality disorder.

Kumar A, Kumar V, Singh K, Kumar S, Kim YS, Lee YM,et al.Therapeutic Advances for Huntington’s Disease.Brain Sci. 2020 Jan 12;10(1):43. doi:10.3390/brainsci10010043.

Johnson EC, Chang Y, Agrawal A.An update on the role of common genetic variation underlying substance use disorders.Curr Genet Med Rep. 2020 Jun;8(2):35-46. doi:10.1007/s40142-020-00184-w.

Icick R, Shadrin A, Holen B, Karadag N, Lin A, Hindley G,et al.Genetic overlap between mood instability and alcohol-related phenotypes suggests shared biological underpinnings.Neuropsychopharmacology. 2022 Oct;47(11):1883-1891. doi: 10.1038/s41386-022-01401-6.

Chetty A, Guse T, Malema M.Integrated vs non-integrated treatment outcomes in dual diagnosis disorders: A systematic review.Health SA. 2023 Apr 25;28:2094. doi:10.4102/hsag.v28i0.2094.

Ojezele MO, Eduviere AT, Adedapo EA, Wool TK.Mood Swing during Menstruation: Confounding Factors and Drug Use.Ethiop J Health Sci. 2022 Jul;32(4):681-688. doi:10.4314/ejhs.v32i4.3.

Jung SJ, Park EO, Chae SW, Lee SO, Kwon JW, You JH,et al.Effects of Unripe Black Raspberry Extract Supplementation on Male Climacteric Syndrome and Voiding Dysfunction: A Pilot, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.Nutrients. 2023 Jul 26;15(15):3313. doi:10.3390/nu15153313.

Lyu N, Zhao Q, Fu B, Li J, Wang H, Yang F,et al.Hormonal and inflammatory signatures of different mood episodes in bipolar disorder: a large-scale clinical study.BMC Psychiatry. 2023 Jun 20;23(1):449. doi:10.1186/s12888-023-04846-1.

Kusljic N, Manias E, Gogos A.Corticosteroid-induced psychiatric disturbances: It is time for pharmacists to take notice.Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy. 2016;12(2):355-60. doi:10.1016/j.sapharm.2015.05.012

National Institute on Drug Abuse.Anabolic steroids and other appearance and performance enhancing drugs.

Bremner, JD.Isotretinoin and neuropsychiatric side effects: Continued vigilance is needed.Journal of Affective Disorders Reports. Volume 6. 2021. doi:10.1016/j.jadr.2021.100230

Patel R, Reiss P, Shetty H, et al.Do antidepressants increase the risk of mania and bipolar disorder in people with depression? A retrospective electronic case register cohort study.BMJ Open. 2015;5(12):e008341. Published 2015 Dec 14. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2015-008341

Meet Our Medical Expert Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

What is your feedback?