You hear all the time about women and their mood swings, especially when it’s that time of the month. However, we don’t give much thought to the concept of mood swings in men.
Everyone is susceptible to this problem, which comes about for multiple reasons. If you’re a man or know a man that’s moody, then you may be wondering why this is so.
In the following article, we’ll explore some of the reasons we find mood swings in men. And then what you can do to help.
Let’s get into it!
Hormonal Changes a Root Cause
Women who battle with PMS and mood swings during their menstrual cycle are battling an internal war between hormone levels. Hormonal changes are one of the root causes of mood swings in men and women.
This is why you’ll find teenage boys being moodier than normal. Their bodies are going through hormonal changes, which is completely normal.
It becomes abnormal when the mood swings are severe and occurs well into your 20s and 30s – almost bipolar like. It’s important to watch for signs of severe depression associated with these mood swings because this could be a sign of another ailment.
If you’re battling with out-of-control mood swings and extreme bouts of depression, then it’s time to talk to your doctor right away about treatment.
So What Are these Hormonal Causes?
After boys become men, hormones balance out, and things turn back to normal. However, there are instances where men’s testosterone levels lower, which too can make you more susceptible to mood swings.
Some experts call this male menopause. Of course, it’s vastly different from a woman’s menopause, which renders women barren. Men can still produce semen and have children in this lower-testosterone state.
Another term for male menopause is andropause, which comes about when hormone levels drop low for a long time.
Are There Any Other Causes for Mood Swings in Men?
Now, if you’re an aging male suffering from mood swings, then it’s likely testosterone levels are the culprit. However, if you’re under 30 years old and still have high testosterone, then there’s likely a health condition as the cause.
For instance, you may be battling with depression and bipolar disorder, which are known to cause severe mood swings in men, women, and children.
The Tie Between Irritable Male Syndrome and Low Testosterone
As we already mentioned, aging men begin to lose their high testosterone levels. It’s common for those over 40 to have low testosterone. However, what’s more, alarming is that today, 25% of men over 30 years old now have this issue.
The deficiency is beginning earlier and earlier as decades go by.
Men who suffer from testosterone deficiency tend to have higher irritability, which brings forth the term irritable male syndrome. Experts reveal these men have lower emotional reserves, so their fuse is a lot shorter.
You’ve likely heard that men with high testosterone are easier to anger, yet this is what we see when men have low testosterone. You’ll find some experts who believe low testosterone isn’t the cause of irritability and that it’s just a symptom of another health problem that’s causing mood swings.
There are a lot of different issues men develop as they grow older. For instance, some have a low sex drive, which too can contribute to irritability.
What Are the Symptoms of Mood Swings in Men
The men who are battling with mood swings tend to have various symptoms. These symptoms include insomnia, memory loss, depression, decreased motivation, anxiety, frustration, tension, sarcasm, feeling anti-social and being argumentative.
Other Potential Causes of Mood Swings in Men
While low testosterone levels may be a culprit in mood swings, it’s not the only possibility. Let’s take a look at some of the common causes related to mood swings.
ADHD
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder makes people frustrated and distracted very easily and often. This can make you feel inadequate and have issues with coping with depression. This can, in turn, make you moody.
Intermittent Explosive Disorder
IED is known to cause uncontrollable anger that sometimes leads to violence. These individuals don’t necessarily mean to cause harm but end up doing so anyway.
Borderline Personality Disorder
BPS is a condition that makes individuals unable to keep stable relationships because of their topsy-turvy emotions regarding themselves and others. Those with this condition may also have thoughts of suicide.
Substance Abuse
Of course, what you’re putting into your body can also affect your emotions and mental state. Those who abuse drugs and alcohol may have erratic behavior. Their cravings typically guide this unstable behavior.
Stress
We all know how debilitating stress can be to our health. If you’re living with continuous stress, it can make you moody. This is especially so if you don’t ever get a break or have no one to talk to.
Chemical Imbalances
Your brain and body have a variety of hormones and neurotransmitters, which produce chemicals that make you happy, anxious, stressed or sad. When you have a chemical imbalance, it can leave you feeling down from stress and depression because of too much of one chemical being produced.
Head Injury
Those who suffer from an acute head injury may develop problems with their personality and mood. This depends on the region of the brain that the impact affected.
Treatment for Mood Swings
The treatment for mood swings all comes down to the cause. If your doctor finds low testosterone levels, they may prescribe you hormone therapy to help raise it back up.
However, if you have depression, ADHD or other conditions, then the doctor treats this specifically to determine if it helps your irritability.
Read More About Health & Fitness
Maintaining your health is key to leading a happy life. You can read up on various topics to learn tips and tricks for managing your mental and physical well-being.
At Florida Independent, we have a host of articles on everything to do with health and wellness.
Stop by our site today to read more about how you can become the healthiest you possible.
