What my mood swings used to look like
Looking back, my mood swings were like being on a never-ending merry-go-round with no off switch. One second, I’m cool and composed, and then bam! Irritated by something trivial. It was a wild time, and left me drained and wondering what the heck was going on.
Right before my period, the ups and downs got extra dramatic. My hormones were having a party during what’s called the luteal phase, making me extra touchy and more likely to lose my cool (ThriveLab). It’s like PMS came with a starter pack: sadness, anger, moodiness—you name it.
This is how my average day of mood swings looked:
| Time of Day | Mood Description |
|---|---|
| Morning | Chill and driven |
| Early Afternoon | A touch cranky |
| Late Afternoon | Frustration and anxiety creeping in |
| Evening | All the feels: super sad and sensitive |
Charting my emotions showed a clear rhythm, mainly during the luteal phase when progesterone was having its high time. Although these hormones sometimes calmed me, they also pushed my moodiness buttons. The rollercoaster didn’t just show up for PMS, though. Big life stuff, like pregnancy, added extra twists, throwing estrogen and progesterone into overdrive which translated into emotional chaos (ThriveLab).
But wait, there’s more. Anxiety and depression, both untreated, turned the volume up on my mood swings. Add in the stress and trauma of past years, which seemed to boost cortisol, and you’ve got quite the storm (ThriveLab). It made it crystal clear that getting a grip on this mess involved taking a comprehensive look at my world.
If you’re nodding along, thinking, “Yep, that’s me,” check out our deep dive on managing these hormonal mood swings here. Gaining some balance became my number one goal, inspiring changes in how I lived daily.
Through some good old trial and error, I found my footing. Supplements, swaps in my diet, and a nailed-down routine were game-changers. Curious about the exact foods, supplements, and routines that changed my life? Head over to our section on best supplements for hormone mood swings. Taming this emotional beast took patience and self-discovery. With persistence and a bit of luck, I managed to step off that hormonal rollercoaster for good.
How I Knew It Was My Hormones Acting Up
One day, I just couldn’t shake off that cranky vibe lurking around the same part of each month. It hit me hard and fast—these emotional roller coasters weren’t playing by the rules of randomness! That’s when it clicked: it had to do with my cycle. My inner detective was intrigued. Cue the mission to zero in on what was really going on.
Jotting Down Every Wiggle and Wobble
I grabbed a notebook and started jotting down how I felt each day—grumpy, antsy, or just blue out of nowhere. After a bit, the patterns slapped me in the face. Every mood swing traced itself back to my monthly cycle, especially the luteal phase — round the bend after ovulation when progesterone levels hit the roof.
Hormones Doing Their Dance
Turns out, our hormones love to shake things up. In that second half of the cycle, progesterone is like that friend who can be super chill or just plain unpredictable. Sometimes calming, other times stirring the pot with irritability and heightened emotions (ThriveLab).
Usual Hormone Mischiefs:
- PMS and PMDD: Yep, mood swings and sensitivity are just your hormones throwing a mini party.
- Pregnancy: Estrogen and progesterone go through the roof in early pregnancy, causing all sorts of emotional chaos.
- Menopause: Here, estrogen packs its bags and leads to mood roller coasters.
- PCOS: Low progesterone can leave you longing for balance, tossing anxiety and irritation into the mix.
Chatting With the Doc
Notebook in hand, I marched right into a doctor’s office. We matched my scribbles with some blood tests, and bingo! Hormones were playing ping-pong. The doc suggested some life tweaks—better food, a few supplements, and a good ol’ routine sweep.
Finding My Tribe and Tools
For anyone else dancing to the rhythm of hormonal mood swings, knowing what’s behind it all can be a lifesaver. Dive into helpful stuff like mood swings and hormones or best supplements for hormone mood swings. Not to forget hormonal irritability natural remedies to calm the storm.
Keeping tabs on my symptoms and getting input from the pros gave me a snug grip on my emotional see-saw. Piecing it all together turned out to be just what I needed to shake hands with my moods and keep my calm cool and collected.
My Journal Method for Tracking Patterns
I was determined to get a grip on my hormone-induced mood swings, so I decided to give journaling a whirl. It was my way of shining a light on those wild emotional rollercoasters, helping me figure out just how much my hormones were messing with my mood. Here’s my game plan.
Setting Up the Journal
I whipped up a journal format that checked off the essentials:
- Date
- Mood Rating (1-10)
- Emotions Experienced
- Physical Symptoms
- Menstrual Cycle Phase (if you have one)
- Dietary Intake
- Exercise
- Sleep Quality
- Stress Levels
Regular Entries
I made it a habit to jot down my thoughts every day, usually as I wound down in the evening. Here’s a sneak peek from my journal setup:
| Date | Mood Rating | Emotions | Physical Symptoms | Menstrual Cycle Phase | Dietary Intake | Exercise | Sleep Quality | Stress Levels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/01/2023 | 5 | Irritable, sad | Cramps | Menstrual | Balanced meals with lots of veggies | 30 min walk | 7 hours | High |
| 01/02/2023 | 7 | Content, calm | Bloating | Menstrual | High-carbohydrate, sugary snacks | None | 6 hours | Medium |
Using this approach, I began picking up on trends and triggers. For example, I realized that my irritation tended to spike during certain times of the month, which corresponded with hormonal upheavals (Cleveland Clinic).
Analyzing the Data
After a bit, I sat down with a cup of coffee and my journal to detect the patterns:
- Hormonal Cycles: I noticed mood dips fell in line with the luteal phase when progesterone took a nosedive.
- Diet and Mood: Sweets and carbs were typically the calm before the emotional storm, showing how what I ate played into my mood swings (Cleveland Clinic).
- Sleep and Stress: Sleepless nights and sky-high stress seemed to pal around with bad mood days.
Making Adjustments
Armed with these insights, I started making changes in my life. I zeroed in on eating better, getting moving more often, and catching enough Zs (best supplements for hormone mood swings). For some natural ways to smooth out mood bumps, check out my picks on hormonal irritability natural remedies.
This journaling gig turned out to be a golden ticket. It’s such a straightforward yet mighty way to take charge and untangle the puzzle of emotional health. If you’ve been feeling like your mood’s a tossed salad, try jotting it down in a journal and peek at our guides on mood swings and hormones.
Foods, supplements, and routines that stabilized me
Finding my way through those hormone mood swings was a game-changer for me. Here’s what got me steady: the munchies, vitamins, and daily habits that turned my rollercoaster into a kiddie ride.
Awesome Edibles
Getting my meals loaded with the good stuff wasn’t just healthy—I’m talkin’ hormone flipping gold. Here’s what worked wonders for me.
Omega-3 Goodies
Omega-3s are like brain cheerleaders. Load your grocery cart with these champs:
- Salmon (Think buttery smooth brain cells)
- Flaxseeds (These tiny guys are sneaky clever)
- Walnuts (Not just for squirrels)
- Chia seeds (Yup—the ones from the pet planter)
Feeling curious? Take a look at omega-3 and mood stuff.
Magnesium Munchies
Magnesium supports your nerves and kisses goodbye to PMS blues. Here’s where to find it:
| Food | Magnesium Goodness (mg) per serving |
|---|---|
| Spinach | 157 |
| Almonds | 80 |
| Dark Chocolate | 64 (yes, chocolate helps!) |
| Avocado | 58 |
Supplements
Popping some pills (the safe, healthy kind) made my brain and body give me a high five. Here’s my stash:
- Vitamin B6: Made meltdowns less melty and gave me a pep. That 100 mg gave my day a boost.
- Calcium and Vitamin D: Kept my mood sunshiney—gotta love a mood as stable as grandma’s casserole.
- Evening Primrose Oil: Soothed the “hey, quit poking me” syndrome.
Wanna know more magic in a bottle? Check magic mood supplements info.
Daily Acts of Awesomeness
Doing stuff every day kept the hormone blob in check.
Get Moving
Bustin’ a move stopped stress in its tracks and made me one happy camper. My plan:
- 30 minutes of go-go-go like jogging, walking (you know—takin’ it easy), 5 times a week.
- Chillin’ with yoga to get that zen.
Mindful Moments
I started finding my zen with some quiet time. Kept me sane. Try this:
- A quick 10-minute brain chill-out in the morning
- Little mindful check-ins so you don’t drift into the black hole
Snooze Time
Decent sleep turned my frazzled into fab. Sticking to the routine was my fluffy bedtime bunny:
- 7-9 hours of beauty sleep
- Bedtime and morning rise like clockwork
Scratching your head about natural fixes? Check nature’s mood fixes.
With these munchies, vitamins, and habits stitched into my day, I finally kicked those mood swings where it hurts. Find more tales and tips about hormone hijinks from me and others over at hormone mood tales.
How C15:0 (Fatty15) Helped Smooth Emotional Ups and Downs
When I started poking around for options to handle my wild hormone mood swings, I stumbled across C15:0, or as it’s fondly called, Fatty15. Let me tell ya, this stuff’s been a game-changer for dealing with the emotional rollercoaster of moods and hormones. You can dive more into it here.
The Nitty-Gritty Behind C15:0
So, what’s C15:0? It’s not your run-of-the-mill fatty acid. This odd-chain saturated fatty acid, technically known as pentadecanoic acid, does wonders for keeping our cells in tip-top shape. It’s especially useful for folks like me, facing hormonal shifts. Those highs and lows with estrogen during perimenopause and menopause often left me feeling out of sorts. Trust me, those swings were no picnic, making me stressed out more than I’d like to admit (bywinona).
How C15:0 Tamed My Mood Swings
Every day, without fail, I’d pop a C15:0 supplement. Here’s what happened:
- Less Freaking Out: Oh, that cortisol! It cranked up when my estrogen went down, turning me into a ball of nerves. With Fatty15, though, I became way more chill. The constant worrying started to take a back seat, letting a more peaceful feeling take the wheel.
- Steadier Mood: No more yo-yo moods! Things started smoothing out. Those pesky spikes and drops mellowed out. This newfound calm really upgraded my daily life a lot.
Keeping an Eye on Things
Jotting down my progress was key to spotting how Fatty15 made a dent. Every week, in my trusty notebook, I kept tabs on my mood swings:
| Week | Anxiety Levels (1-10) | Mood Stability (1-10) |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Fatty15 | 8 | 3 |
| Week 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Week 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Week 4 | 3 | 8 |
Blending C15:0 with Other Tricks
C15:0 was my main squeeze, but I didn’t stop there. Mixing it with a revamped diet, new habits, and other mood-boosting supplements created a full-circle approach for me. Peeking into the best mood supplements was a goldmine. And if you’re itching to shake off those hormonal grumps naturally, you might wanna check here for some natural remedies.
Wrapping It Up
Adding C15:0 to my routine? Absolute game-changer for my emotional well-being. If you’re wrestling with those hormone-driven mood swings, Fatty15 might be your new best friend. Wanna geek out more on how fatty acids can pump up your mood? This piece on fatty acids is worth a look.
