Mood Swings

The term "mood swing" refers to the phenomenon of rapidly and intensely fluctuating emotions. Mood swings are frequently described as a "roller coaster" of emotions ranging from happiness and contentment to anger, irritability, and even depression.
A mood swing is a fast, significant change in mood. A person may recognize something that has caused a mood shift, such as a stressful event at work. However, mood swings are not uncommon when there is no obvious cause. People may even experience changes in mood if they have an underlying mental health issue.

Common causes of mood swings

Developmental Stages
Toddlers and young children often appear "moody" and may throw tantrums as they learn to regulate their emotions. Mood swings in children can be a sign of an underlying mental health disorder, learning disability, or even a physical ailment. Mood swings continue to be a normal part of children's development as they grow older. By the time they reach their adolescence, mood swings are primarily caused by hormonal changes. These mood shifts typically peak during adolescence and gradually stabilize by young adulthood.

Allergies
If you have seasonal allergies, you may find that your mood is influenced by the time of year you tend to have symptoms. Constant sneezing, watery eyes, post-nasal drip, and itchiness can also contribute to fatigue, particularly if your allergies interfere with your sleep.

Medications
Starting or stopping a prescription medication can affect a person's mood. While antidepressants and mood stabilizers are expected to have an effect on a person's mood, medications prescribed for other reasons may also cause mood swings as a side effect.
Mood changes can be a symptom of depression or another mental health condition, but some medications used to treat these disorders can also cause mood changes. These mood swings can sometimes indicate that a medication isn't the best option for treatment, or that a person's diagnosis is incorrect.

Hormones
Changes in hormone levels, particularly estrogen, may be another cause of mood swings. Hormone fluctuations are normal and well known to have an impact on mood, such as the menstrual cycle. Mood swings are also common in response to other causes of shifting hormone levels, such as pregnancy and menopause.