Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
I Am Having Constant Mood Swings. What Is The Required Treatment To Be Done?
Question: I constantly have these enormous mood swings. One minute, I'll be happy as can be with the most positive outlook. Then, I'll have this feeling that everybody is upset with me over something. My mood will just crash, and I'll have these feelings of annoyance and confusion. Eventually, I start convincing myself that it will pass, and eventually..it does. I just worry that these may become more intense in the future. I also constantly think people are talking about me. Like, if I hear one line out of a conversation going on at work or home, I'll relate it to me and it will be either positive or negative. Sometimes I can't even make out what they said, but my imagination puts it together. It all seems so weird and makes me think I'm just a little crazy. I've kind of learned to deal with them, so it's not as much of a problem anymore but more of an inconvenience. The occurrences are are happening less often, so it has improved in that aspect. Ever since my "self therapy XXXXXX if you will. One thing I can't do anything abut is this shaking. My hands have a minor shake. It's not completely noticeable, but people have noticed. It kind of bothers me and i feel that it's affecting my writing. Also, this depression isn't fun. My car was broken into, they smashed my window and stole my SCHOOL BAG. Lucky them, they got my psychology textbook along with pens and markers! No, I really was upset about the book and the bag, everything was brand new and it had all my notes. Gps was gone too. All in all it cost me about 500 dollars. Shit happens and it wasnt too bad, I just didnt want to do anything. I had no motivation to move. I couldn't have worked if i wanted to. Something like this has never happened to me and I gotta say, it got me "down in the dumps XXXXXX I felt violated. I had to call off work for TWO days. That enough for now.
My questions are:
1. Do you have any experience in any form of "self therapy"? If so, please explain.
2. If it's working tremendously for me, is it possible that others can train their mind to a certain extent of which would show improvement as well?
3. I strongly believe that if I stay really determined, I could eliminate these mood swings and paranoia all by just training my mind. Do you think I would be successful? Ive also noticed that diet plays a huge role in mental health. I've drastically changed my diet over the passing year, and I feel that it played a huge role in my improvement. I've come quite a distance.
4. What would you professionally advise me to do about all of this, and the shaking?
XXXXXX
My questions are:
1. Do you have any experience in any form of "self therapy"? If so, please explain.
2. If it's working tremendously for me, is it possible that others can train their mind to a certain extent of which would show improvement as well?
3. I strongly believe that if I stay really determined, I could eliminate these mood swings and paranoia all by just training my mind. Do you think I would be successful? Ive also noticed that diet plays a huge role in mental health. I've drastically changed my diet over the passing year, and I feel that it played a huge role in my improvement. I've come quite a distance.
4. What would you professionally advise me to do about all of this, and the shaking?
XXXXXX
Hello,
Thanks for your query.
I appreciate your efforts for medical consultation in so much distress.
From your description it appear that you are having problem of anxiety and depression. These problems are not always situational (because of stress) as in many cases problem is out of proportion of the stress. Many times it is biological due to biochemical changes in brain. In severe, then such problems do not improve completely by exercise or self guidance or lifestyle modifications only, but all these measures help in recovery with medicines or psychological treatment. Your problem appears to biological to me due to its severity.
Other symptoms of anxiety and depression which may or may not be present in your case: nervousness, restlessness, mild irritability, excessive worry regarding own health, tremor, muscle spasm, heaviness in body, easy fatigability, headache, sleep disturbance, palpitation and dry mouth.
Anxiety and depression occur due to neurotransmitters imbalance in brain most commonly involving serotonin neurotransmitter. It is not clear if you received any treatment in past, but believe me people life changes after treatment.
In drug treatment two types of medicine used. For immediate relief of anxiety benzodiazepines group of medicines are used and for long term relief most commonly SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are used. SSRI takes around 3-4 weeks to show its effect. Non drug treatment like cognitive behaviour therapy (form of psychotherapy) also takes weeks to show its effect.
All these process is complex. I have just simplified it to make you understand it. So, you can seek above treatment from psychiatrist along with self therapy by yourself.
Apart from above advice following simple measures will help you:
-Decrease worrying about symptoms as they will cure after treatment.
-Healthy diet: Milk and fruits in diet.
-Daily morning walk and breathing exercise.
Your questions:
1. Do you have any experience in any form of "self therapy"? If so, please explain.
Answer: Yes. In psychiatry we use cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) in which people are trained to remove negative automatic thoughts with positive ones. For a person usually 6-10 in-person sessions with therapist is needed. Later on, after learning it can be continued by self alone or along with medicines depending on severity of problem.
2. If it's working tremendously for me, is it possible that others can train their mind to a certain extent of which would show improvement as well?
Answer: Yes.
3. I strongly believe that if I stay really determined, I could eliminate these mood swings and paranoia all by just training my mind. Do you think I would be successful? Ive also noticed that diet plays a huge role in mental health. I've drastically changed my diet over the passing year, and I feel that it played a huge role in my improvement. I've come quite a distance.
Answer: It is good that you are doing self therapy and lifestyle changes. It enhances treatment response. But your symptoms are not fully controlled with it. In my view, it is better to seek professional help along with self therapy and lifestyle changes, for better response and to decrease current suffering.
4. What would you professionally advise me to do about all of this, and the shaking?
Answer: It occur due to anxiety in body. Shaking will reduce after treatment of anxiety and depression. No extra treatment needed for it.
I hope this information has been both informative and helpful for you.
Wish you good health.
Regards,
Thanks for your query.
I appreciate your efforts for medical consultation in so much distress.
From your description it appear that you are having problem of anxiety and depression. These problems are not always situational (because of stress) as in many cases problem is out of proportion of the stress. Many times it is biological due to biochemical changes in brain. In severe, then such problems do not improve completely by exercise or self guidance or lifestyle modifications only, but all these measures help in recovery with medicines or psychological treatment. Your problem appears to biological to me due to its severity.
Other symptoms of anxiety and depression which may or may not be present in your case: nervousness, restlessness, mild irritability, excessive worry regarding own health, tremor, muscle spasm, heaviness in body, easy fatigability, headache, sleep disturbance, palpitation and dry mouth.
Anxiety and depression occur due to neurotransmitters imbalance in brain most commonly involving serotonin neurotransmitter. It is not clear if you received any treatment in past, but believe me people life changes after treatment.
In drug treatment two types of medicine used. For immediate relief of anxiety benzodiazepines group of medicines are used and for long term relief most commonly SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are used. SSRI takes around 3-4 weeks to show its effect. Non drug treatment like cognitive behaviour therapy (form of psychotherapy) also takes weeks to show its effect.
All these process is complex. I have just simplified it to make you understand it. So, you can seek above treatment from psychiatrist along with self therapy by yourself.
Apart from above advice following simple measures will help you:
-Decrease worrying about symptoms as they will cure after treatment.
-Healthy diet: Milk and fruits in diet.
-Daily morning walk and breathing exercise.
Your questions:
1. Do you have any experience in any form of "self therapy"? If so, please explain.
Answer: Yes. In psychiatry we use cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) in which people are trained to remove negative automatic thoughts with positive ones. For a person usually 6-10 in-person sessions with therapist is needed. Later on, after learning it can be continued by self alone or along with medicines depending on severity of problem.
2. If it's working tremendously for me, is it possible that others can train their mind to a certain extent of which would show improvement as well?
Answer: Yes.
3. I strongly believe that if I stay really determined, I could eliminate these mood swings and paranoia all by just training my mind. Do you think I would be successful? Ive also noticed that diet plays a huge role in mental health. I've drastically changed my diet over the passing year, and I feel that it played a huge role in my improvement. I've come quite a distance.
Answer: It is good that you are doing self therapy and lifestyle changes. It enhances treatment response. But your symptoms are not fully controlled with it. In my view, it is better to seek professional help along with self therapy and lifestyle changes, for better response and to decrease current suffering.
4. What would you professionally advise me to do about all of this, and the shaking?
Answer: It occur due to anxiety in body. Shaking will reduce after treatment of anxiety and depression. No extra treatment needed for it.
I hope this information has been both informative and helpful for you.
Wish you good health.
Regards,
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
