Bad Moods

Bad mood is a feeling that makes you feel hopeless, helpless, irritable and/or anxious. Bad moods are a part of our life. It affects people of any age. Though it is a common ailment, if left untreated, it can turn to be a serious mood disorder.

Reasons for Bad Moods

Bad moods occur when your ability to regulate yourself is depleted and is quite literally the opposite of positive mood. Weather conditions, poor sleep, unbalanced diet, starvation diet or a painful headache could cause bad moods.  Chemical imbalance is one of the reasons for bad moods. If the brain’s production of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine are affected, bad mood signs will appear.  Some medications, menstruation, menopause, puberty, stress and headache may also be the reasons for bad moods.

What are the Signs of a Bad Mood

Often mood problems go undiagnosed, as the bad mood signs mimic normal emotional problems or resemble the signs of some other disorder.  Many young people get bad mood signs, because of hormonal changes, fast physical and cognitive development and peer pressures. Frequent complaining of physical aches, suicidal thoughts, sleep problems, changes in sexual drive, poor judgment and reduced self esteem are some of the bad mood signs.

How to Treat Bad Moods

Relief for mood is important, as it can lead to serious mood problems like depression. Fortunately, it is not hard to get over a bad mood. Some simple ways can help in getting relief from bad mood.

• Listen to Music- Music can trigger the release of neurotransmitters in your brain, making you feel happy.
• Exercise- Exercise helps increase endorphins and turns a bad mood to good mood quickly. You can boost the endorphin level by doing a moderate or high level exercise. The endorphins are associated with the feeling of happiness. However, it does not last long, so you need to do exercise daily to get permanent relief from bad moods.
• Medications- Medications can help in treating bad moods. When combined with psychotherapy, medications can help provide better results. However, medications could cause side effects and make you an addict. Hence, it is important to take anti depressants after consulting with your physician.
• Meditation and Yoga- Meditation and yoga are effective in treating mood problems. Just spend a few minutes in practicing yoga and meditation daily to lift your mood.
• Get Enough Sleep- Getting adequate sleep is important to get relief from bad mood. Tiredness can trigger irritability and mood problems.
• Natural remedies- Natural remedies can help in treating bad moods safely and quickly.

Holy basil is an herb that has been used in Asian countries to reduce stress, anxiety and mood problems. You can get holy basil at health food stores and online stores. Lemon balm is another effective remedy. It has a mild sedative effect, which helps improve sleep.

Passionflower helps promote calmness and relaxation. It has the same antidepressant properties like prescription medications, but it helps treat bad mood without causing any side effects. Green tea is helpful in treating mood problems. Taking green tea daily can help you cope with stress better.