Mood swings can be described as a phenomenon characterized by rapidly surging or plummeting moods, sensations of internal conflict, confusion or loss of control, sudden bursts of energy leading to feelings of restlessness, agitation, aggressive behavior and depression after a break up.  Although both males and females experience fluctuating at some time or the other, ‘mood-swings in women’ is the phrase widely heard. The reason behind this disparity could be because the phenomenon is more pronounced and frequent in women compared to men.  Mood swings in women can be attributed to a multitude of reasons. Causes of Mood Swings in Women Causes of mood swings in women may be biological, emotional or environmental in nature. A few of the major causes of mood swings in women are discussed as follows. Hormonal Imbalances Women suffer from fluctuating levels of hormones during different phases of their lives which indirectly affect the central nervous system and brain, thus leading to mood swings. The major causes of hormonal imbalances in women are pregnancy, pre-menstrual syndrome, menstrual cycles, pre-menopause and menopause. The levels of estrogen, testosterone and progesterone fluctuate during these phases, triggering depression, anxiety etc. Something like cuddling for depression could be of help. This is because, the level of neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine- alter the mood of an individual. Hormones such as estrogen and progesterone greatly influence the levels of these ‘happy –hormones’ in the brain. A lack of estrogen for instance, during the pre-menstrual stage, reduces the level of serotonin in the ...

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