How to Deal With Mood Swings in a Relationship

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What are Mood Swings?

Mood swings are a common part of life. We all experience them from time to time, but for those with bipolar disorder, it can be a daily struggle. Mood swings that accompany bipolar disorder and other mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety cause significant disruptions in your day-to-day life and your interpersonal relationships, especially romantic ones.

What Causes Mood Swings?

Personality disorders 

Most people experience mild bouts of different emotions when sad or happy. However, for those with personality disorder such as bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, and depression, these feelings can be intensified and last a lot longer.

Drug addiction 

Drug addiction can make you feel down or elated. If you become addicted to drugs, it can increase your chances of suffering from mental illness and worsen your existing mood swings. Drugs such as alcohol, cocaine, and heroin can change how people think and act. They can also cause chemical imbalances in the brain that lead to mental disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder, which can cause mood swings.

Stress

Stress is a normal part of life, and it is a physical and psychological response to sensation, change, or pressure. Stress can also trigger mental illnesses such as anxiety disorders and depression which can all cause mood swings.

How Mood Swings Affect Our Relationships

Feeling guilty

It can be difficult to control yourself when you are suffering from mood swings. You may feel guilty about acting towards your partner, but this does not mean that the relationship is doomed. Your feelings are important and should be treated as such no matter what type of mood swing you are experiencing.

Taking things personally

Mood swings make us more sensitive to others and how they react to us. If your partner says something, you don’t like, it can feel as though the entire world is against you, but remember that it’s just a reaction that occurs because of what you’re going through.

Wanting space

When you have mood swings, especially severe ones, you may feel overwhelmed and suffocated by the people around you. You may want to be alone or even break off your relationship. Remember that it is not them giving you the space but a mental disorder that needs time to heal.

Conflicts

Mood swings make us more irritable and sensitive to everything. This means that you are more likely to get into arguments with your partner, friends, or family. Don’t take it personally when this happens. Remember that it’s not about you, but the mental disorder causing the mood swing.

Breakups

Relationships are a lot of hard work, but they can be worth it. If your partner is willing to try and understand you through the difficult times, you should be too. If the two of you don’t think it’s going to work out, then cutting ties might not be bad. Remember that although relationships end, there are other options out there.

How to Deal With Mood Swings in a Relationship

Talk to them

The best way to deal with mood swings is to talk. Let your partner know how you feel and if they are willing to help you out, then great, but if not, then it’s crucial that you still try and seek help on your own. Remember that mood swings are treatable, so don’t let them ruin your life.

Seek professional help

If your mood swings hurt your relationships, don’t be afraid to seek professional help. Sometimes therapy or medication can provide you with the relief that you need. Talk to your doctor about what is available for you and how it might work for your specific situation.

Remain empathetic and understanding

If somebody is dealing with mood swings, they may be afraid of how it affects their relationships. Remaining empathetic and understanding can help your partner get through this tough time. By doing this, you are helping to maintain the relationship even if things feel like they are falling apart.

Don’t ignore it

Mood swings are more than just a change in attitude, and it’s important not to ignore it because this can worsen the problem. Whether you are dealing with mood swings yourself or your partner is, learning about the symptoms and getting treatment for them is an integral part of maintaining relationships.

Offer to help

Offering to help can take many different forms. You don’t have to be somebody’s therapist, but you can still play a major role in their healing process, for example, by bringing up activities during times of stability or bringing them food when they are not feeling well.

Accept the mood swings as part of who they are

It is important to remember that mood swings are a natural part of life. If somebody you love has mood swings, then it’s not your job to change them by any means. Accepting them can take time but will make future interactions less stressful for both of you.

Don’t try and prevent the mood swing

Remember that preventing mood swings can be practically impossible, so don’t feel like you have to do everything in your power to keep them at bay. If they are going to happen, just try to remain calm and comfortable until it passes.

Don’t take it personally

Remember that mood swings are not about you, but somebody’s mental disorder. Even if the mood is directed at somebody close to them, it is still not personal. So don’t take things personally, even when they are upset with you.

Know when to step away

If your partner is dealing with mood swings, knowing when they are about to happen can be challenging. This is why it might be a good idea for you to give them some space during these times. If somebody is feeling down, getting close to them may just worsen the problem.

Learn your partner’s triggers

Everybody has triggered. Whether it’s stress, anxiety, or just a bad day at work, knowing what makes your partner tick can help you out during these difficult times. By learning how to avoid or reduce their mood swings, you are helping them to remain stable and calm.

Control your own emotions

Remember that mood swings are just one-half of the equation. Even if you can identify what triggers them, it may not be enough to stop them entirely. This is why it’s also vital that you control your emotions during these times so that you don’t send your partner over the edge.

Don’t give up

Most importantly, you must remember that mood swings are treatable. So with the proper support, medicine, and time, you can overcome mood swings. It may not be easy, but it is possible to restore your mental health and learn to control your emotions again.

Confide in a friend

If you have a friend, you feel comfortable talking with, confiding in them may be good. Having somebody, they trust on your side is vital when it comes to helping somebody through mood swings. By confiding in someone, that person can learn from their own experiences and offer advice for the future.

Take some time away from your partner

Remember that mood swings are not just difficult for the person feeling down. It can also be highly stressful for their loved ones, so taking some time away from them can offer everybody some relief. This might be an excellent way to remind yourself of your strength during tough times.

Stop making the problem worse

If you are constantly arguing with your partner during their mood swings, it might be time to take a step back and let them calm down. This is not the time to hold them accountable for their actions, but instead, give them some space to feel better again.

Ask how they are feeling

Most people want somebody in their life to ask them how they are feeling. So if somebody is going through mood swings and you ask them how they feel, it might offer some comfort to know that somebody cares. This might be enough for them to pull themselves out of the problem and move forward again.

Don’t force a conversation

Even if somebody you love breaks down during their mood swings, it might not be the best time to talk about things. There may be too many emotions on their side that they cannot focus on what you are saying, so don’t force them.

Remain calm and patient

Remember that the person with mood swings is battling some complex problems, which can sometimes make it difficult to express themselves. If you remain calm and patient, it may be easier to explain what they are feeling, and it might help you understand why they are upset without taking it personally.

Be there for the long haul

Sometimes mood swings can last a very long time, so your loved ones must be supported through the process of recovery. They may find it easier to deal with their problems by being there for them, so don’t give up on somebody you love.

Conclusion

Mood swings are complicated for everybody involved, but you can help somebody through their problem by using these tips. Knowing what to do when somebody with mood swings is feeling down or when they start to become too difficult may be possible to overcome the problem in time.

No matter how many people are in your life, remember that nobody deserves to go through mood swings by themselves. So even if you cannot understand their problems, always be there to help somebody through the good times and the bad.