I'm going to try to approach this as well as I possibly can without coming of as the typical "OMG mah lyfe ish soooo hard!" teen. That just simply isn't the case here and I'm not trying to get attention, rather I'm trying to get suggestions for acceptable course of action considering the situation. For those that don't want to read a bunch, I'll have a list toward the end.

So, for a little over a month I have been having drastic mood swings; generally from happy to sad with sudden anger or irritability thrown into the mix. For a while, these changes were small and not very worrisome until one particular spell hit that really scared me once my wits returned. This one occurred very suddenly. I was up late at night watching an old comedy from the nineties and I was struck with this wall of emotion and an extreme disgust, all out hate for myself. I've had low self-esteem for most of my life, but it was never more than a little "gosh, I hate my belly fluff." This was something that I hadn't quite experienced before and I cried for hours and hours before I just gave up and went to bed. I slept until about three in the morning, waking to the same emotions that I went to bed with. I stayed in bed until six PM that day; waking to cry or just feeling completely miserable. For that duration, I only wandered out of my room to use the bathroom, I didn't even imagine eating; everything hurt and that was all I knew. When it subsided enough for me to leave my room, I still couldn't shake that gloom. That day was nearly a month ago and similar things have continued to plague me. One moment, I'll be happy and feel like I can do absolutely anything and then an hour or so later, I'll be on a heap in the floor crying. There is nothing that has triggered this, it came on very suddenly. My family, friends, and significant other have become very startled and concerned because of these changes in the way I'm acting, I'm not the only one that has noticed. I don't know what to make of it. That's why I'm here, I suppose.

A quick list of things I've experienced:
- Sudden, very drastic mood swings (happy or calm to a very deep depression)
- Loss (sometimes an incredible increase) of appetite during spells
- Feelings of disgust and hate toward myself

. . . You get the picture.

I've already decided that I will be speaking to my counselor at school, so if there is a need for medical attention or professional guidance, I will be getting it. But the reason that I am posting this is to ask. . .

For people that have experienced something similar, what was the outcome and how did you deal with it?

Is there a possibility of a nutritional imbalance causing these mood swings?

Is there a chance of genetics playing a role in this (there is a long line of depression and other disorders on my mother's side)?

Or maybe I'm reading too much into it and it will just pass?

Teens have mood swings...but that is not normal. Those down periods sound absolutely devestating and are beginning to affect your life and the way you relate to people...you've spent days in bed and aren't eating when this happens.

Yes nutrition can affect this. Even when you don't want to eat, do your best to eat anyway just to keep your blood sugar stable. Physical conditions, like thyroid problems, can present themselves as mood disorders.

This happened to me...I'd been in and out of therapy with no real help until i got hospitalized. FIRST thing they checked was my thyroid...which they do to EVERY patient who comes in there with mood problems. You'd be surprised how many diseases have psychological issues as a symptom.

My tests came out normal; I do have bipolar disorder and was put on a medication in the hospital to stabilize me so I can go home and then I was started on a long term medication and intensive therapy to get my symptoms under control. That was two and a half years ago and I'm happy to report that I only have some problems when I have my period...there have been times during this time when I've needed more therapy or a med change but I haven't been back in the hospital.

I'm so happy you're taking that step and telling someone and seeking help. So many people don't. My family was afraid I'd be "labeled" and a big black box warning would follow me for the rest of my life. Well it didn't turn out that way! Mental illness can be and is often genetic and I have several family members specifically with bipolar.

Good luck...please let us know how things turn out!

@ReineDeLaSeine14:
I do hope that things go as smoothly for me, but so far I've been having a hard time working up the courage to talk to my counselor, and when I do feel like I can do it, I can't seem to find the time. I'm definitely working on getting help as soon as possible, especially taking into consideration that things have only gotten worse as of late.

Thank you very much for the encouraging words! I truly appreciate it.

i'm glad your getting more courage to comfort someone. thats alot of problems for you i'm sorry. hope it all works out

Aura any updates?

Originally Posted by ReineDeLaSeine14

Aura any updates?

Well, things got worse. A lot worse. My mother walked into my room during one particularly bad breakdown and she started asking questions because she had noticed that I had been acting strangely. At first, I didn't want to tell her anything, but as she continued to pry, I realized that I wasn't going to get anywhere acting like that and stuffing up when people are trying to. So, I told her. And now she has made an appointment for me to see a therapist this coming Thursday. I am terribly nervous about it, but it has been a long time with no improvement, so perhaps this is the best course of action from here.

Seeing a therapist seems like a good first step.
good luck!!! :heart:

I am glad you were able to open up to your mom and I am also glad to hear that you will be seeing a therapist. Remember if you ever want to talk or have any questions for me I'm only a PM or Chat away.