Mood swings are a fact of life, and all of us have an “off” day every now and then. But while shifts in mood are fairly common, there’s an upward trend in the frequency that mood swings are experienced. It’s estimated that more than 20% of adults experience symptoms of a mood disorder at some point in their lives, with symptoms being reported more frequently in women. But that number is rising, and it isn’t only women that the problem is worsening for. Mood swings in men are becoming more common, and they can significantly affect your quality of life.
Mood swings can be caused by many factors. Infrequent mood swings might be caused by stress or a period of illness. When mood swings are a chronic concern though, an underlying physiological or psychological cause is often at the root of the problem.
Chronic mood swings in men may be caused by:
Men who are dealing with alcoholism or a different substance abuse disorder often experience changes in mood. This can stem from different elements of the substance abuse disorder, such as irritability when they have restricted access to an addictive substance or when trying to quit. The lifestyle changes associated with substance abuse can also cause noticeable mood swings.
Bipolar disorder affects approximately 5.7 million adults in the United States, a nearly equal percentage of them being men. While bipolar disorder isn’t the most common cause of mood swings, significant changes in mood are one of the primary symptoms.
When mood swings occur in women, we immediately look at the significant hormonal shifts that a woman’s body experiences, starting at puberty and following through to the post-menopausal phase. When looking at mood swings in men, we often fail male members of society by not putting enough significance on the hormonal shifts experienced throughout their lives, especially as an element of aging.
Research has brought us to the point that we now understand that the male body reacts in a way similar to a woman’s body in response to hormonal fluctuations – primarily in response to shifts in the male sex hormone, testosterone.
As men age, the level of testosterone begins to naturally decline. It’s estimated that at least one-third of men over the age of 45 present with symptoms of reduced levels of testosterone. Testosterone’s role has a larger scope than what many people realize. Low levels of testosterone can lead to a reduced sex drive. However, there are other important considerations, including the effect of testosterone on mood swings in men.
The medical community is noticing that more men, especially those who are approaching mid-life in age, are reporting symptoms that are similar to what women experience during perimenopause and menopause. These symptoms include fatigue, depression, sexual changes, and mood swings.
The question is, do men experience their own type of menopause? We know that men do appear to go through a similar stage in life where testosterone levels plummet. This phase has been called andropause.
Unlike women and menopause, there is no clear point that defines andropause. Slowly over time, the male body slows testosterone production, but it doesn’t stop completely. This may lead to an extended period where men experience symptoms, including chronic or even sudden and drastic changes in mood.
As hormones shift in men, this can cause associated symptoms that include:
When considering the effect of hormone fluctuations on a man’s body, it becomes easier to see how mood swings in men become more common with age. However, it isn’t just the normal aging process that can lead to hormonal shifts. Underlying issues such as adrenal fatigue can directly affect the amount of testosterone produced by the body and lead to increased mood swings in men of all ages and health status.
Living in today’s society, your body is under a great deal of stress. Lifestyles have become more fast-paced, stress and tension are common every day, and while you might be taking good care of yourself, your body is also being bombarded by a load of environmental toxins that it has to process and filter. These factors combined put a great deal of stress on your body and your endocrine system, specifically your adrenal glands.
Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome (AFS) is a chronic condition in which the adrenal glands function with diminished efficiency. The challenging aspect of adrenal fatigue is that it currently isn’t recognized by mainstream medicine, although it is in fact, a very real condition. Another challenging aspect is the variance of symptoms among people who are living with AFS.
There is a connection between mood swings in men and AFS. AFS is a result of chronic stress on your adrenal glands. This stress affects how your adrenal glands function, which has cascading effects on other hormone systems like those that make testosterone. This is why the same lifestyle and environment factors that are placing stress on your adrenals are often associated with mood disorders like anxiety, depression, and mood swings.
It’s difficult to predict the severity of mood swings that are stress-related. The degree to which each person experiences symptoms, and how they affect their body systemically is different for each individual. The variance of symptoms and the lack of acknowledgment from the mainstream medical community presents roadblocks in identifying proven ways to reduce mood swings.
Your body is constantly working to fight stress. When there is constant stress in your life, coming from multiple avenues, the stress toll on your body reaches a level of overload. Chronic stress is the cause of more health issues than headaches, muscle tension, and sleepless nights.
There are multiple systems working together to fight stress in your body, and when they are all overburdened, it’s no surprise that symptoms like an increase in mood swings begin to manifest themselves. These systems that work together are part of your body’s NeuroEndoMetabolic (NEM) Stress Response. The NEM is composed of six circuits that are directly involved in how your body processes chronic stress and inflammation.
While the best methods for addressing stress, AFS, and the mood swings in men that it can produce, vary between individuals, but managing stress and eating a healthy diet are primary ways to begin helping your body.
Stress and irritability are the primary psychological triggers for mood swings. Reducing the amount of stress in your life might not magically dispel mood swings, but it can help minimize their occurrence and ease other problems you might be experiencing.
Stress is completely normal, and so is your body’s typical response to it. Stress can come from positive experiences just as much as negative ones. Positive changes can also cause a certain amount of stress and minor mood swings that are completely understandable.
But high levels of chronic stress lead to hormone imbalances that are a major cause of mood swings in men, so it is important to make sure your stress doesn’t go on for too long.
Consider adopting a few of these stress reduction techniques:
Deep breathingLearning to identify the root cause of your stress is the best way to combat it. Likewise, it is important to identify if the cause of your mood swings could be something else, like depression.
Mood swings in men are becoming more recognized by the medical community as an issue worthy of our attention. AFS is a common condition that is associated with a range of symptoms, including mood swings.
You can also help reduce the frequency and severity of mood swings by:
If you would like to know more about coping with mood swings in men, the team at Dr. Lam Coaching can help. We offer a free** no-obligation phone consultation at +1-626-571-1234 where we will privately discuss your symptoms and various options. You can also send us a question by clicking here.
© Copyright 2021 Michael Lam, M.D. All Rights Reserved.
Stress is a contributing factor to mood swings for men. Stress also affects the hormone balance in the body and the NEM response, which also influences mood swings. And stress can lead to adrenal fatigue, which can have a direct impact on mood.
