Skip to main content Skip to bottom nav

I have very rapid mood swings, what's the best way to manage them so no one gets hurt?

153 Answers
Last Updated: 06/08/2022 at 5:43am
I have very rapid mood swings, what's the best way to manage them so no one gets hurt?
1 Tip to Feel Better
United Kingdom
Moderated by

Tanyia Hughes, Adv Dip Psy

Psychotherapist

I have been through a lot in life too, which helps me to be able to empathize with situations, thoughts and feelings that we have. Sometimes, it's not easy just being human.

Top Rated Answers
truthSeeker71
October 16th, 2016 10:47am
I am learning that if I slow down I can change my thoughts, which in turn can change my feelings. Learning to become aware that there is a space between our feelings and our reactions has been really empowering for me. It is tricky at first because the normal old emotional reactions still came into play but the more I practice the more I have control over how my moods affect the people around me.
Ele1987
July 28th, 2016 7:38am
Be aware and non judgmental about what you're feeling, mindfulness exercises can help with this. Also know that your emotions cannot control you or your behavior, you can accept what you're feeling but decide how you will act, the fact that you want to work to control your emotions and avoid hurting others is a great first step.
Greatlistener87
- Expert in Managing Emotions
July 30th, 2016 12:33pm
Mood swings could be caused by something that you have not solved in yourself, best is to find out what triggers this moods swings and deal with them.
Anonymous
August 26th, 2016 10:15am
when you get angry walk out. Go to your own place and wait till you calm down. Best to let others know you are in a bad mood which will make it easier for them to understand and let you be.
beautifulMelody28
May 26th, 2018 4:15pm
Communication is often the best tool. Be aware of your mood changes and say things like "right now, I feel angry so I think I should go to another room to calm down" or " at the moment, I feel blue so I think I should not stay alone". The problem with rapid mood swings is that those around you often do not know what happened so talking about it ( how you are feeling, what triggered it, how you'd like to deal with it) makes it easier for the people around you.
Textingpals
October 30th, 2020 10:05am
Rapid mood swings are something many can relate to. While they are common, they aren't pleasant experiences for us and the people around us. I believe, they can affect our relationships a lot. To handle that, I try a whole lot of things like writing journals, distracting myself, painting, drawing, reading, etc. Maintaining journals is an excellent way of keeping a track on your mood swings. Especially when you have trust issues. Talking to someone might help, in the alternate case. Try to go deep into why you are feeling what you are feeling, what makes you feel like that, what are you actually feeling, what do you think the emotion might be, what upsets you, what, according to you, is the reason behind the mood, etc. Try asking a lots of similar questions to yourself and try to answer them in the form of journals, enteries or as a self interview. After the episode, when you reflect back on it, you will com across many things you weren't aware of, about you. Distracting helps a lot if you don't want to talk/think about it. Try grounding techniques, colouring ready made pictures, painting or drawing pictures. You may try reading, listening to music if you aren't a big fan of drawing. Anything that distracts your brain is good enough. You may also try to think of a pleasant experience/moment or someone you are grateful to have in your life. Try to word out a memory where you feel cherished, loved or describe a person you feel blessed to have. If nothing works, you may also try to describe a situation/place/person in as much details as you can.
Anonymous
August 26th, 2016 5:59am
Focusing on positive thoughts instead of negatives helps a lot. If any negative thought occurs then come up with a counter positive thought. Another way is to boost your self-esteem. Helping people increases self-esteem. To give a massive boost to your self-esteem, help someone in such a way who cannot repay back your help. You can also try helping your mom in household chores, your father in outdoor stuffs and any other family member. Doing these for some weeks you will start to notice a positive change in you, you will feel more happy and delighted. I have walked this path and hence can say that it is incredibly beneficial.
succourears
August 4th, 2016 3:29am
I should do some research about mood swings and find ways to control myself. By being in control of my mood I will feel stronger and better.
hopefulParadise73
August 3rd, 2018 2:53pm
By thinking before you speak.By practicing patience. Taking deep breaths to calm down. By keeping your voice tone low.
Chynecheremsworld
July 19th, 2018 3:01am
Well dont think too much about it walk away when you are angry try to be more tolerating when someone is being annoying and dont always push people away be more understanding and put yourself in their shoes
Tommy27
October 20th, 2018 7:05pm
Telling others about this can really help this situation because, if you have a mood swing and the person is aware that this is something you're struggling with, then he or she can come to terms with whats happening, instead of being offended, for example. I can imagine that it must be tough for you because you don't want anyone to judge you or for you to hurt anyone, and I do have a lot of sympathy for you. If you ever feel like things are getting a bit difficult, maybe there is something your Doctor can help you with, and although they may not be a counsellor, it can also give you a person to talk to. I wish you all the best :)
radiantHoliday71
February 10th, 2019 8:30am
i grew up with mood swings and had to learn it not in a 'happy to recall it' way. I realized i have mood swing after a decade or even more. Based on my experience, what I did to manage, prevent, and minimize so no one gets hurt is be vigilance. Practice to aware how you feel and take a note when, where, and with whom your emotion is triggered. Your first reaction of an activity tells you the truth. So, listen to it. To prevent at the moment it occurs is quickly remember what are you doing initially, in my experience, it helps me to get back to my right mind and stay focus. When you feel calmer, recall what happened and seek what happened right before you are triggered. That way not only you become vigilance next time also you are on the next step on how to cope with it. It takes time and practice to manage mood swings and you can do better.
Anonymous
July 26th, 2016 8:28am
It's easier said than done. However, if you want to manage your emotions better...you should always find a solution to a problem before you react with emotion.
SecretsForRenee
April 3rd, 2019 12:08am
A good deal of the time, you can feel your mood about to shift and only fully become aware of this after you’ve done or said something you regret . You then understand how swiftly you reacted to a situation which could have easily been dealt with in a calm manner; however not always. A way to slow down the safe pace of your mood swings is to get a feelings/emotion book. This can be like a diary where you write down all the things you are feeling or thinking linked to your mood; at what time and what you’re doing. Eventually this will act as not only an eye opener to certain pattens which may actually prompt your rapid mood swings, but also act as an outlet where you can purge your negative feelings into pages instead of throwing them into the world. It’s okay to experience these high or low moods; but sometimes you may hurt yourself or others around you. So understand that during these mood swings it’s okay to take a step back from the situation or person and connect with yourself. Ask to yourself: In a few hours will I still feel this intensely? Then continue to question yourself on whether it would be healthier to take some space and then perhaps speak to those around you why you felt your mood change so fast. This just helps others around you to understand and for you to identify what feelings were going on inside you; as often mood swings happen so swiftly you’re unable to identify a specific feeling which leads to frustration and confusion.
Anonymous
February 26th, 2020 8:48am
Don't try to force down your mood swings, but learn to accept it. Forcing yourself back into a headspace is quite hard. Try to go into a safe place in your environment such as your personal bedroom to calm down and return to a calm and passive mood. Talk to someone about this, preferably an expert on mood swings. Get their advice and live by it, making sure to go to checkups with the expert. Make sure that people around you understand why you have mood swings and what you do to manage it. I hope that this helps you with your question.
avanef
April 18th, 2020 9:26pm
If you can, go see your doctor. You might have anything from distrubance with your menstrual cycle, bipolar, etc. If you can't physically see a doctor during the current virus check to see if your healthcare provides anything like video chat or messaging a doctor to talk about these mood swings. That can also help you get more information on it and could potentially help you lessen them. Doing some research on rapid mood swings also isn't a horrible idea. Just don't feel like everything you may read is everything you have. It's just good to research about it and see what exactly you might be dealing with or could potentially have. It'll give you good ways to help treat it as well, if possible. Another thing, having those mood swings shouldn't make you feel like you'll hurt anyone. There are many people who know someone who deals with it, whether it's minor or major. If people care about you, they'll still be there for you during your mood swings. People are more understanding and forgiving than we think. If some don't, don't take it personally and don't think you have to protect or have everyone's good grace in mind. At the end of the day, you should take care of yourself and then others. They'll understand and still be there for you. Don't forget the ones who love you and are there to support and help you through anything you face in life. I hope you find the answers to all of this and just know the 7 cups of tea community is always there for you! Good luck!
Anonymous
May 6th, 2020 10:26pm
Some good, simple methods to manage mood swings include regularly exercising, avoiding alcohol or sugar or caffeine, and sleeping better. Overall, practicing ways to manage your stress really helps. Becoming aware of yourself in situations where you are feeling extreme moods will help ensure that you do not hurt anyone else. Even though, managing these mood swings is hard, it is necessary. It will take time, sure, but it is worth it in the end. In the past, I have had very rapid mood swings and the only way I was able to manage it was becoming aware of myself, my surroundings, and if I could upset, offend, or hurt someone else.
CastielIsPerfect
August 3rd, 2017 5:28pm
Whenever I had big mood swings I would write about it. I have a diary and it really helps me manage how I feel on a regular basis. I have been able to find patterns in my behavior and my journal has answered a lot of questions about why I do things. The more I explored my emotions in my journal, the easier it was to control them.
goldenVision2112
November 10th, 2016 1:47am
The best way to manage them is actually prevention, in the sense that you must come to know yourself and your triggers. When you feel a swing coming on or right when you realize you may be in a swing, you must distance yourself from the situation. Have your friends and family know that when you say "Pause" or another codeword, you must leave and will come back when you are ready. This and a good diet free from alcohol and drugs will help to control the mood swings.
Anonymous
August 20th, 2016 8:44am
This sounds ridiculous, I am sure, but turn everything into a joke. That's what I do, I make everything funny, make jokes, seeing people laugh takes away my anger as soon as it happens. whenever I feel I'm getting angry I will bring out my inner clown.
Supergirl94
August 10th, 2016 5:42am
You may have Bipolar or emotional disorder/condition. Usually being positive, maybe taking some herbal supplements can help. Try to figure out when your mood swings happen, if there are triggers and avoiding them or finding ways to better cope and express your emotions.
Here4u2smile
August 10th, 2016 2:39pm
Write. Write. Write. Is my way of managing my mood swings. Breath. Or even mediation is also good to learn how to deal with the mood changes.
Anonymous
August 11th, 2016 10:23am
communication is key, Explain what happens and then no one will be surprised/negatively impacted by your mood swings.
miraculousBeauty49
August 4th, 2016 3:34pm
Find a creative outlet or safe space for you to retreat to in these moments. If you are in school, ask for 5 minutes to be outside
Anonymous
March 25th, 2020 2:37am
when I have very rapid mood swings I have to separate myself from the situation and the people I care about. For everyone it’s different, but for me I try to distract myself with coping mechanisms. If I’m angry I’ll take a walk, if I’m lonely I’ll call my friend, if I’m depressed I’ll try to do art. The best way for me when my bipolar gets the best of me is to physically distance myself and take a few moments to breathe and think about what I’m doing. I often get very angry and then I feel very guilty for feeling so angry in the first place so I take a long walk with loud music or I’ll try to take a nap and think myself through before socializing so that I don’t mess up the few social connections that I have.
Anonymous
January 13th, 2020 10:45pm
Thanks for acknowledging an area that you are working to improve within yourself. It is admirable when people want to grow beyond their challenges. Meditation is huge. There are many formats for meditation so just because you tried it once, does not mean that it is not for you. By tapping into your inner self you are more aware of when you are more likely to react in a harmful way toward yourself, or others, and so by learning to meditate you can also learn to respond, instead of react. Additionally, evaluating your diet, exercise and supplements and adjusting accordingly will also assist you in preventing some of those extremes that could cause injury. Being aware of what foods trigger your moods and making sure to exercise in a way to help naturally moderate your mood will all be helpful courses of action. Thank you for working to create more peace and harmony in your life while reducing the number of harmful instances to yourself and others.
Anonymous
April 14th, 2022 9:03pm
Firstly, identify what behaviour of yours is risking someone’s safety. Then, focus on what’s causing that behaviour, and now, alter the way you think, and break that habit of behaviour, to form a better pattern of behaviour. That’s the long term. Short term: when you’re in a situation where you’re worried your behaviour may hurt someone, then leave the situation in any way you can. Let the person know, if you think they need to, that you need some time to cool off. Proceed by walking away and cooling off. If not I’m a position to do that, let the person know how you’re feeling so they can decide what to do with it. In the moment if you need to calm down quickly, breath in for 4, hold for 7, and exhale for 8 seconds. Continue until you’ve calmed down, and proceed.
Anonymous
April 17th, 2020 7:24pm
I definitely relate to this. I find it helpful to reflect on how I’m feeling and take deep breaths and come to terms with how I’m feeling. Look back and see how your body reacts to certain situations and learn what makes you feel better, whether that be breathing, exercise, fresh air. Try and understand how you react to certain things and how you can help yourself relax. Eventually, you may find it easier to figure out when you might have a mood swing and use your way of relaxing (exercise, breathing etc) before you upset someone. It’s very thoughtful of you to think about how others feel in these situations. I hope this helped. Make sure you listen to your body :)
timeforothers56
April 2nd, 2020 12:49pm
hello you are chatting to timeforothers56 is this your first time on 7 cups I am an active listener how can I help you today do you feel your moods are out of control how does this affect you are you worried it will affect your relationship with your family you can get help with this I know it can feel overwhelming . have you thought you might benefit from anger management I can help refer you to someone if you would like I am here to listen if you need to talk just know that this can be managed and you are not alone
Anonymous
April 4th, 2020 11:26pm
If mood swings get severe as to wanting to hurt someone or destroy property, it is best to seek counseling or therapy services. I have had to and still to seek therapy services for some problems I'm having. Mood swings could be caused by a variety of issues, such as imbalance, stress with family, friends, relationships, work, school, or a traumatic event, whether or not it was recent. In my experience, I've had many things come up in my life, such as issues with abusive family member, and social anxiety in school. I have overcome a lot of these by seeking therapy services, practicing healthy habits such as eating well, sleeping and lots of exercising.