Being on a roller coaster of fluctuating moods can affect your relationships, work and more. By changing your habits, it’s possible to take charge of your moods and feel more stable, enabling you to experience life more positively without being a prisoner of your emotions. Here are some suggestions:
Don’t let your feelings fester. Admit them, and consider if something happened in the last 24 hours to trigger your negativity. Are there issues that you’ve put off dealing with or problems that you should address?
Consider if a particular person or situation prompts a bad mood. Figure ways to limit your time with them or the situation. Are you trying to change things you really can’t control, or do you expect a different, unlikely, outcome? Try to accept people and things as they are.
Don’t catch a bad mood. Are you feeling susceptible to someone else’s strong emotions? Try focusing on something else—or take a brisk walk.
Set boundaries. When you feel confused and helpless about circumstances that seem out of your control, stop and ask: “How much of what’s going on here is really about me?” A healthy separation from the news or irritating people, for example, can help prevent emotional overload.
Give yourself some space. When your mood dips, try to limit the major chores, decisions, or projects you need to handle—if possible, wait to deal with these things once your mood has improved.
Practice gratitude, being thankful for even the little things in life. Done daily, it can remind you of the joy you have experienced and you’ll begin to see your life through a more positive lens.
In a continual funk? Take more active measures–you have a choice to change your mood. Talking it out with someone close to you, writing in a journal, listening to soothing music, joining a support group and carving out time to attend to your own needs, hobbies and relaxation when you’re feeling overwhelmed are all ways to help yourself feel better balanced, get back to a more even keel, and feel upbeat.
If continuing moodiness is affecting your life, talk to your health practitioner about a referral for counseling, or speak with a qualified counselor.
