It is generally thought that women are the complicated and emotional ones--prone to unpredictable mood swings--while men are thought to be the less emotional, steady ones. Believing in this, however, can leave you feeling confused when your man gets in a so-called mood. The simple fact is that men have mood swings too. If you are a woman struggling with your man's moods, you can use techniques to figure him out.
Step 1
Acknowledge that emotions are a healthy part of every man's life, and that it is absolutely normal for a man to experience emotional ups and downs.
Step 2
Recognize that men, like women, experience hormonal changes. In fact, men experience increases and decreases in testosterone levels throughout the day, every day. Dramatic increases or decreases in testosterone can affect men mentally as well as physically. High levels usually cause aggression and agitation. Low levels usually cause fatigue and depression. Studies show that stress has a strong impact on men's testosterone levels.
Step 3
Realize that because men have fewer socially acceptable outlets for a full range of emotions, they often express sadness, fear, anxiety or insecurity as anger. If they are not comfortable with anger, a common alternative for a man is to withdraw, or brood.
Step 4
Observe the patterns of how your man reacts to stress. Does he get anxious? Angry? Depressed? Having this information can help you anticipate and understand more clearly any mood swings in the future.
Step 5
Realize that men can get more easily overwhelmed by social drama than women. When your man feels overwhelmed, he may need to be alone to unwind. The worst thing you can do is smother him by trying to figure out what's going on. Give him space to breathe--perhaps even for a whole day. Soon he'll be back to his usual self.
Step 6
Be patient. While it can be difficult to wait while your man goes through some moodiness, sometimes it's the best thing you can do. Try to be patient until your man comes around and lets you know what is going on with him. Chances are, if you're patient enough, he'll do exactly that.
Step 7
Ask him. If something's going on with your man and you don't know what, ask him. A willingness to listen when your man talks (without judgment) will go a long way toward facilitating communication with him in that moment and in the future.
Tips and Warnings
- Probably the most important thing you can do when your man is in a mood is to let him be--give him space--and soon enough, he'll be back to his usual self.
