Mood Swings Treatments

With up to 80% of women experiencing mood swings, they are one of the most common menopause symptoms out there. Frustrating if not understood, mood swings can leave a woman laughing hysterically one moment and weeping quietly the next. Understanding why they occur is the key to being able to defeat this troublesome rollercoaster of emotion, disembarking and living on an even keel once again.

Mood Swings	Fortunately, as it is known that mood swings are caused by fluctuating estrogen and progesterone levels, it is possible to treat this upsetting imbalance. Though it used to be in vogue to prescribe hormone replacement therapy to treat this fundamental imbalance, persistent links to breast and ovarian cancer, along with heart disease and blood clots, have caused most healthcare professionals to rethink this drastic option. Many agree that the most effective approach in the treatment of mood swings is to combine a few changes in lifestyle with alternative treatment options. Three approaches for treating Mood Swings: Three levels of approaches can be considered for treating mood swings. These are categorized as: (1) Lifestyle Changes, (2) Alternative Medicine and (3) Drugs and Surgery. It is recommended to begin with the least risky option, lifestyle changes, before progressing up to the next stage of treatment. Drugs and surgery should be used only in extreme cases.
Mood Swings Overview About Mood Swings Definition Symptoms Causes of Mood Swings Hormonal Other menopause causes Risk factors for Mood Swings Psychological Behavioral Health related Extreme Cases of Mood Swings Bi-polar Depression Anxiety Treatments for Mood Swings

1: Lifestyle Changes for Mood Swings:

This primary level of treatment involves the least amount of risk, though conversely it requires the highest amount of self discipline. Many times some simple changes in lifestyle can reap huge benefits in fighting mood swings, and achieving a higher overall level of health.

Fundamentally, techniques for stress reduction, such as yoga or meditation, combined with regular exercise and an improved diet, can do a woman great service. Diet in particular is key in regulating mood swings. By eating a balanced diet rich in foods that boost serotonin levels, and avoiding mood-crashing sugary foods and excess caffeine, it is possible to stabilize mood levels to some degree.

Cut Back on Caffeine	Caffeine is a stimulant that acts directly on the nervous system, adding to mood instability.
Eat more carbohydrates	Foods such as potato, bran, wheat, and other complex carbohydrates help to boost serotonin levels.
Eat more protein	Foods high in protein, such as meat, fish, dairy products, are amino acids rich and help cope mood swings.
Make time for friends and family	Spending time with loved ones boosts levels of oxytocin, a feel-good hormone that counteracts mood imbalance.
Exercise regularly	Relaxing exercises such as yoga not only improve overall self image and health, but reduce stress levels.

Making these lifestyle changes is easier said than done, especially if one is accustomed to a certain routine. In addition, while these changes will help alleviate mood swings, they do not address the problem directly at the hormonal source and so further treatment may be necessary. Alternative medicine has proven to be excellent for treating mood swings in a safe and natural way.

2: Alternative Approach:

Alternative approaches involve little to no risk and can be an extremely effective way to treat mood swings. This level of approach can involve several different therapies. Herbal supplements are the most prominent, though in addition women may turn to other stress relieving techniques such as massage or Chinese acupuncture which may help stabilize mood. However, most women find that herbal supplements are the easiest alternative treatment to follow, as the others require a greater time and monetary commitment. In addition, herbal supplements are the only viable option to treat the hormonal imbalance behind mood swings directly at its source.

In the case of herbal supplements, there are two types of herbs that can be used for treating mood swings: phytoestrogenic and non-estrogenic herbs. Phytoestrogenic herbs (e.g. Black Cohosh) contain estrogenic components produced by plants. These herbs, at first, do treat the hormonal imbalance by introducing these plant-based estrogens into the body. However, as a result of adding outside hormones, a woman´s body may become less capable of producing estrogen on its own. This causes a further decrease of the body´s own hormone levels.

Concentration-Building Supplements: • Vitamin E • Gingko Biloba • Huperzine A • Ginseng • Acetyl-L-camitine

By contrast, non-estrogenic herbs, as the name suggests, don't contain any estrogen. These herbs stimulate a woman´s hormone production by nourishing the pituitary and endocrine glands, causing them to more efficiently produce natural hormones. This ultimately results in balancing not only estrogen, but also progesterone. Non-estrogenic herbs (e.g. Macafem) can be considered the safest way to treat these 34 menopause symptoms naturally as the body creates its own hormones and doesn´t require any outside assistance.

A combination of approaches is usually the most effective route to take. Lifestyle changes combined with alternative medicine will most likely be the best way to alleviate the symptoms of mood swings. However, for some women the symptoms will be so severe that a more drastic treatment is necessary. In taking the leap into pharmaceutical options, side effects are inevitable, yet sometimes they can be worth it if the benefits will outweigh the risks.

3: Pharmaceutical Options for Mood Swings

Interventions at the third level involve the highest risk and often the highest costs. The most common drug therapy for treating mood swings in the US is hormone replacement therapy (HRT). This may be a quick and strong way to combat the underlying hormonal imbalance; but, unfortunately, it entails serious side effects and increases the risk of different types of cancer among women, as the following study has proven.

In 1991 the National Institute of Health (NIH) launched the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), the largest clinical trial ever undertaken in the United States. The WHI was designed to provide answers concerning possible benefits and risks associated with use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). This study was canceled in July 2002, after it was proven that synthetic hormones increase risks of ovarian and breast cancer as well as heart disease, blood clots and strokes. The findings were published in JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association, and to this date have not been disputed.

If a woman's mood swings are at the level of severity that she is still considering this final option, it is wise to speak to a healthcare professional for guidance.

These three levels of approaches are not mutually exclusive. A woman may use different approaches at different times or any combination of them, depending on the duration and severity of symptoms. Today more and more women find that dealing with menopause symptoms is best accomplished via a combination of healthy lifestyle and alternative treatments.

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