Mood swings

Mood swings are rapid or pronounced shifts in emotional state, such as moving from calm to irritable or from cheerful to tearful within a short period.

Everyone experiences some variation in mood, and swings become a concern when they are frequent, intense or out of proportion to events. Common contributors include hormonal transitions such as perimenopause and the menstrual cycle, sleep deprivation, chronic stress, blood sugar swings and certain medications. Persistent or extreme shifts may also signal a mood disorder, including bipolar disorder or depression, which require different evaluation.

Assessment involves a careful history of when the shifts occur, how long they last and what accompanies them, often with a mood diary and screening questionnaires. Clinicians look for patterns tied to hormones, sleep or substance use before considering a psychiatric diagnosis. Cannabinoids have been examined in early research on mood and stress responses, and there is no established use for mood swings.