Mood Swings

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Some of the time I feel happy. I don't know why.
Some of the time I feel unhappy. I don't know why.

If I could isolate the cause of happiness I could replicate it.
If I could isolate the cause of unhappiness I could avoid it.

For most of today I've felt fine. Sometimes I feel miserable, seemingly because of some past regret or another (possibly related to the day's obsession) but it might be that this regret is not the cause of my unhappiness. It might instead be a symptom. If my periodic unhappiness has some other cause, it might cause me to focus on regrets in such a way that the regrets seem to be the cause when they're actually a symptom. 

Is there any physiological of mood swings?
Is there a cure?

There probably is no "cure."

How well can you distract yourself with doing things---like research and posting on forums----when you feel down?

Sometimes "distractions" make me feel worse.

when you are thinking about the need to be distracted, and go to distractions only in an attempt to shroud or get away from negative thoughts...then yeah, they aren't going to help much.

they have to be things you legitimately enjoy doing, and can easily get lost and absorbed in. distractions merely for the sake of being distracted aren't gonna cut it, i think.

maybe if you change your routine (if you have a routine), and try to do new things, or stop doing old things, that would help you isolate a source of a certain feeling?

for me, driving aimlessly seems to be helpful...partially because it forces me to focus on the road, the act of driving and if i allow myself to dwell on my other problems too much i'll probably end up mailed or killed (or doing the same to something else)...certainly not in my best interest, and would then be in a worse position than if i had stayed at home and focused on my problems.

but i do legitimately like driving. have been getting more miles out of a tank lately, which makes my wallet happy too.

Depends. There certainly CAN be a physiological cause of mood swings, such as in bipolar disorder or certain personality disorders (Borderline PD, etc). Changes in blood sugar levels can also cause mood swings in some people, particularly diabetics or those with hypoglycemia. And some medications can mess with your mood in a big way, as can recreational drugs like alcohol or cocaine.

Aside from that, a lot of it just comes down to negative feelings like boredom, frustration or loneliness. Sensory stress can definitely put one in a bad mood too. I've always had a lot of mood swings so I've tried to take note of what really set mine off. My biggest triggers are: PMS; hunger/skipping meals; depressants (alcohol, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, Ambien); allergens (mold, cat pee, dust); migraines & prolonged exposure to loud noise.

Hmmm. I've noticed I feel kind of down on fasting days but the main thing that puts me in a downward spiral is seeng/hearing about people who are more successful than me. They make me think "why didn't I do whatever they did!?"

You're more successful than I was at your age. But so what? I'm not going to let myself go down because of that fact. Comparing yourself to others is a fruitless exercise.

I'm an unsuccessful clod...but screw it. I'm going to make myself happy in my own way.

I'm 56. And not even close to being a software tester. I'm merely an office clerk.

Goddamit! If you were me, you'd really be going off the deep end!

You're doing pretty good. This chick is missing out. You'll find another suitable girl.

In order for you to support others properly, you have to support yourself emotionally, too.

Stop comparing yourself to others. It's quite useless. It's like Sisyphus, really.

I am going off the deep end but not because of my job.

She's not missing out. She's now dating a software engineer.

She's happier with him than she ever was with me.

You're going through a certain sort of mourning. I've gone through the same thing. The only thing you can do is move on. Try to evolve from this.

Simplistic advice, yes.....but it's the only thing that works, I believe.

And try to find out if you have some sort of chemical imbalance which is causing your mood swings.

I can't find that out. There is no way for me to find out whether or not I have a chemical imbalance.

I was never successful in love, either. My wife and I have outgrown each other's usefulness.

You have a future. Don't blow it by putting yourself in Sisyphus-type dilemmas.

It's BS. It's also not true. You're probably right in the middle when it come to personal success.

Of course you want to do better. But rolling a boulder and having it come back to you won't help you towards this.

I don't recall: do you take medication?

Yes. I'm probably right in the middle when it comes to career and wealth.

I'm at the bottom of the bell curve when it comes to love and dating. Most people didn't have their first date at 25.

I'm slow at dating. Look at how it only took her two months to find a better guy. It may take me years.



Yes I dated other girls after her but they weren't right for me. Not because of their looks. One of them was much prettier than her. But none of them were right in personality.No. I'm not on any medication.

At the moment I'm attempting to medicate with a 2015 Pepperjack shiraz.

Just be careful that you don't start keeping alcohol in the fridge, and start using it for your morning coffee.

I knew somebody like that. Not pretty.

I would continue the counseling.

And your special interests, as long as it doesn't affect your job.

A bell curve for dating is rubbish. I've known "fast" people who have become mighty slow because of their stupidity. The "slow" people find more success.....because they were patient.

I don't have special interests anymore.

And I wasn't able to see a shrink. Long waiting list.

You're actually pretty good in economics and history. And you have a clever mind in general. And you're pretty good at knowing the international world. Especially for a computer guy.

It's never wrong to read up on this stuff....but always consider the source. Make sure it's of an objectively scholary nature.

Don't just listen to some YouTube thing, and consider it gospel.