If your teenager is showing frequent signs of moodiness, it is important to decipher between normal and abnormal behavior. Several things could be affecting her moods, including hormone fluctuations, stress and underlying medical problems, explains KidsHealth. If her moodiness is affecting her day-to-day living, consider intervening and having her evaluated further by a health care professional.
Signs
Moodiness is an emotional symptom that may be a response to stress overload, notes Helpguide.org. When your teenager exhibits extreme moodiness, you may notice a drastic change in his normal pattern of behavior. Moodiness may also coincide with other signs, such as unstable or aggressive reactions to reasonable requests, agitation, poor judgment and threats of violence. Throughout puberty, hormones can take over emotional behavior leading to feelings of happiness for a period of time and then shifting quickly to hostility and anger. When these feelings persist more than a few days at a time, it could be a sign of extreme moodiness.
Causes
In many cases, the cause of extreme moodiness is unknown. Isolated episodes may appear on a frequent basis but are not tied to other symptoms or conditions. One common cause for females is premenstrual syndrome or PMS. PMS occurs between 5 and 11 days before menstruation and may be caused by hormone levels. Symptoms include anger, moodiness, edginess and tension.
Some psychological and mood disorders for both boys and girls appear in the teen years, including bipolar disorder, which can bring about highs and lows in mood. Treatment of bipolar disorder by a trained psychologist is necessary. Chemical dependence and alcoholism can also trigger extreme moodiness in teenagers. In some cases, medical disorders such as hyperthyroidism can also trigger frequent mood swings, suggests Mayo Clinic; once treatment is established, the mood swings will likely diminish.
Warnings
Extreme moodiness is a sign that your teen is having problems processing thoughts and emotions. In addition to mood swings, if your teen talks about suicide or hurting himself and others, it could indicate depression. MedlinePlus, a service of the National Institutes of Health, says it is important to contact a health care provider right away if you or someone else is having thoughts of suicide. Suicide prevention hotlines are also available, offering volunteers who will listen to teens in a nonjudgmental way (see Resources).
Solution
Getting the right treatment for your teenager's moodiness will help her be better able to function in day-to-day activities. Her medical care provider may start off with a comprehensive metabolic panel to rule out medical conditions that could be triggering extreme moodiness. Treating the illness may help curb mood swings and allow the teen to lead a peaceful and productive life. In some cases, psychological and behavioral therapy may be utilized to help a teen organize his thoughts and feelings in positive ways before acting on them, explains Helpguide.org. Therapy in conjunction with medication may help with extreme mood swings.
References
- KidsHealth: Why Am I In Such a Bad Mood?
- PubMed Health: Premenstrual Syndrome
- National Youth Network: Mood Disorders, Bipolar Disorder and Teenage Depression
- Mayo Clinic; Bipolar Disorder; Jan. 5, 2010
- Helpguide.org: Teen Depression
- Mayo Clinic; Can Thyroid Disease Affect My Mood?; Todd B. Nippoldt, M.D.; Dec. 14, 2010
